Peabody will benefit from proposed county budget increase
35 miles of roads near Peabody will be resurfaced
Staff reporter
Some county roads around Peabody will be overlayed in 2005 with blade patching to begin this week.
The decision was made Monday by Marion County Commission, just a week before the scheduled public hearing for the proposed 2005 budget.
A total of four mills will be added to the proposed 2005 budget, totaling $377,000. These funds will be earmarked for 35 miles of road resurfacing around the Peabody area.
The commission had received several letters from the City of Peabody and residents regarding the condition of roads leading to and from Peabody.
At previous meetings, the commission had discussed the need for a three-year road repair and replacement plan, instead of a five-year plan that was budgeted.
The culmination of discussion and concerns of Peabody officials and residents prompted the commission to take affirmative action to remedy the situation.
Tom Alstrom, superintendent of Peabody-Burns USD 398, attended Monday's meeting to get answers from the commission.
"I don't think you want me to put your grandkids in school buses on these roads," began Alstrom. "If we have a bus wreck on one of those roads, I hate to think about the county's liability issue."
Alstrom said he was frustrated because "every year we get promised the roads will be improved. They do blade patching and they fall apart by the end of the year."
Concerned about timing, Alstrom said Peabody schools begin classes Wednesday (today) and questioned whether some of the roads the county has sealed this summer could have waited.
Alstrom specifically talked about 60th, one of two routes used by buses and local vehicles.
"You have to drive down the middle of the road and you still wobble," said Alstrom.
Other roads discussed were 40th, Old Mill, and Timber.
Jim Herzet, acting county road superintendent, said blade patch work was scheduled to begin on 60th on Tuesday (yesterday).
Alstrom said he was concerned about the buses having access during the construction. Herzet assured Alstrom the road would be "travelable."
With that, Alstrom asked the commission for a long-term plan in getting the roads, not just repaired, but replaced.
Commissioner Howard Collett echoed Alstrom's frustration.
"We know chip and seal roads don't hold up to heavy traffic," Collett said. "I understand what you're up against. People in the big trucks don't heed to the weight limits and don't want their taxes raised."
It was determined approximately 35 miles of roadway needed to be replaced near Peabody. A total of 38 miles was budgeted for 2005 in different parts of the county.
"We can't republish the budget, the mill levy is set," said commission chairman Leroy Wetta. "We blew it."
Herzet said blade patching will be started on Old Mill next week with other roads to follow. Patching materials have been purchased for this budget year, said Herzet.
"Now that's the Band-Aid. What are we going to do for long-term?" asked Wetta.
Collett said he believed the commission needed to do whatever was necessary.
Approximate cost for 35 miles of blacktop was estimated at $350,000. Four mills equaling $377,000 was based on this year's property valuation.
"I would rather say we have a crisis with blacktop roads and we need to increase the budget four mills and republish," said Collett.
Wetta suggested issuing bonds for the landfill closure; Collett countered if bonds are issued, issue them for roads.
Rather than bonding, the commission decided to increase the 2005 mill levy, adjust the budget, and reschedule the public hearing.
Maggard will contact the county's auditor and official county newspaper, the Marion County Record, to make the changes. The budget will be published in the Aug. 25 newspaper and the budget hearing will be scheduled for Sept. 7, Maggard said.
