Traffic counters will be installed along old Highway 169, “as soon as we get a few nice days,” said Mitch Garner, director of public works.
The old highway will become the unofficial detour for U.S. 169 when a rebuild begins this spring for about seven miles between Iola and Humboldt. The highway is expected to be closed for about 18 months.
Establishing an increase in traffic on the old highway once construction begins this spring will help county officials make a case for state assistance with repairs, should any become necessary.
The official detour will be along U.S. 54 to U.S. 75, at Yates Center, and then south to K-39, leading to Chanute.
Two small bridges within three miles north of Humboldt will be inspected and signs will be placed if weight limits are dictated. A sign also will alert truck drivers entering the road from Monarch Cement’s quarry just south of Humboldt Hill.
“The road is going to get a lot more traffic when construction starts,” noted Commissioner Jerry Daniels, who lives near Humboldt, at Tuesday’s meeting of commissioners.
ALAN WEBER, county counselor, told commissioners he was preparing preliminary information about construction of new ambulance stations in Humboldt and Moran. The information will be sent to five architectural firms in southeast Kansas.
Mike Brunett, ambulance director, and Tim Thyer, Iola fire chief, are helping Weber with specifications.
Daniels said the two ambulance stations are within budget boundaries and that Public Works had budget authority to pay for a new rock crusher at the county quarry, expected to cost $1 million or more. Its purchase may fall to a lease-purchase agreement covering several years, which would lessen annual fiscal responsibilities.
Other projects mentioned were a new fire station for local volunteer firefighters at the north edge of Iola and a tall tower to enhance emergency radio coverage. “We have lots of loose ends on those,” Daniels said.
Commissioner Jim Talkington also asked about a hotel proposed for the east side of Iola, for which commissioners promised a $200,000 loan for land acquisition. The loan would be repaid through a 2 percent tax, half going to the hotel and half to the county.
Weber said the project “is still on track, but other projects have pushed back its start.”
