Drivers still using closed Goldenrod bridge
Staff writer
Drivers are still using a closed bridge north of 290th Rd. on Goldenrod Rd. even though it has not been repaired and officially reopened, a county commissioner told road and bridge employees Monday.
People are going around barricades and piles of millings to cross the bridge, commissioner Kent Becker said.
“They’re using it,” Becker said. “People are going right over the bridge.”
Becker said he had watched pickup trucks going through a ditch, across the bridge, and out through a field.
“I see it happening,” he said. “It’s happening all day long.”
Barricades are in place on both ends of the bridge, road and bridge superintendent Steve Hudson said, and crews could push more material in front of the area to block access.
Bridges Inc. was expected to pick up treated and painted steel components Wednesday, administrative coordinator Doug Kjellin said. If weather cooperates, repairs could begin soon after.
The bridge still will need approval from engineers at Cook, Flatt, and Strobel before it officially can reopen, Kjellin said.
“I sure hope that when they’re moving over it when it’s not been repaired it doesn’t damage it further,” county administrator Tina Spencer said.
Commissioner Jonah Gehring added, “If they end up making that bridge worse, it’ll never get reopened.”
KDOT inspected four county bridges Friday and concluded that bridge engineers appeared to be marking and identifying bridges correctly, Kjellin said.
Hudson said road and bridge crews had completed 17 miles of gravel road rebuilds, 18 miles of dirt road work, and work on 103 culverts so far this year.
The department also completed a project on Bison Rd., installing five sections of a 7-by-12-by-30-foot concrete box. Each section weighed 30,000 pounds, Hudson said.
Major gravel rebuilds are planned on 360th Rd. west of US-77 toward Quail Creek Rd., and blade patching is expected to begin in May.
“We just don’t have enough money in our budget to do everything with the gray rock,” Hudson said.
The county will need to put more money into road and bridge equipment in future budgets, Spencer said.
Budget pressure also surfaced during a lengthy public comment by State Rep. Mike King, who spoke for nearly half an hour while asking commissioners about county revenue, state requirements, and population growth.
“My job is to listen,” King said.
Commissioners told King that the county relied mainly on property and sales taxes and had little else to draw from.
“We don’t really have a third tax revenue,” Spencer said.
King voted against legislation limiting county budget growth because counties do not have the same revenue options as the state.
“We’re taking away one of your two legs on your stool,” King said.
Commissioners also told King that the state requires counties to provide services without enough money to pay for them.
“They keep asking more and more of the counties,” Spencer said. “And to provide services that are completely state services. They’re not county services at all.”
Zoning appointments
Planning and zoning appointments also drew discussion.
Commissioners reappointed Chasen Gann, David Mueller, Brandy Smith, Brad Gorsuch, and Josh Weiser to new terms.
Confusion arose over Smith’s term after commissioners had previously appointed her in January. Commissioners ultimately voted again to clarify that her term runs from 2026 through 2028.
The at-large planning commission seat remains vacant. Commissioner Clarke Dirks referenced Evan Yoder, whose appointment had previously been brought forward before being rescinded, but withdrew a motion to move forward after discussion about the selection process.
Commissioners instead voted to accept applications through May 8 and review them May 11.
The at-large member must live outside city limits and be approved by a two-thirds vote of commissioners.
Other business
Commissioners also discussed how to publish recently approved commission meeting rules. They opted to revise a notice so the rules can be inspected at the county clerk’s or administration office instead of paying to publish the full attachment.
Commissioners approved a proclamation declaring May 3 through 9 National Corrections Officers and Employees Week.
Jail administrator Jim Philpott said corrections officers often worked behind closed doors and were seen by few people unless they were “on the wrong side of things.”
Philpott plans to have a barbecue meal for jail staff next week and invited commissioners to attend.