At times this summer, highways 54 and 169 at the east edge of Iola will be a busy place.
Darrin Petrowsky, Kansas Department of Transportation engineer, told Allen County commissioners Tuesday work to rebuild U.S. 54 from Iola to the east edge of La-Harpe would resume in early April, “sooner if the weather looks like it’s going to be cooperative.”
Work remaining on the highway is the bridge over Rock Creek, half a mile east of Iola, and the roadway through Gas.
Meanwhile, a major rebuild of U.S. 169 will start about June 1. That will entail milling four inches of concrete paving from 1.3 miles south of U.S. 54 to south of Welda, in Anderson County. Pavement removed will be replaced with seven inches of asphalt overlay along with a three-inch overlay of shoulders.
Petrowsky said a full-depth rebuild of U.S. 169 from Earlton, in Neosho County, into Allen County also was scheduled, but wouldn’t occur for five or six years. He said plans would be developed for that project after a committee, including several people in communities affected, helped with a plan on how to handle traffic.
Asked if that project might fall victim of funding cuts, Petrowsky said he doubted it.
“It’s in the top 10 (projects) for Kansas,” he said.
Three bridges on U.S. 59 will get upgrades. One just north of Moran and a second three miles north of Moran will be repaired. The third, west and a little north of Savonburg, will be rebuilt. Petrowsky said detour plans to accommodate the bridges’ rebuild were yet to be laid out.
Finally a bike route in Iola along the old Missouri Pacific right of way will be a fall project. Construction of the bridge over Owl Creek, two miles west of Humboldt, is expected to start in June.
A CHANUTE MAN who has balked at paying rent on a hangar at Allen County Airport soon may find five airplanes he owns parked outdoors.
Bill King, director of Public Works, said Alan White amassed late payments of $4,000 at one time, paid down the bill but now again had failed to pay. His rent is $500 a month.
King wondered if the county might incur liability if the planes were moved out into the elements, particularly if they were to sustain storm damage. County Counselor Alan Weber said he didn’t think that was a concern.
Commissioners accepted a bid of $3,209.50 from Decorator Supply, Iola, to place new carpet in their room and an adjoining conference room. Decorator Supply’s was the only bid. They also picked a bid of $250 from Sparkles Cleaning and Painting, Humboldt, to paint the two rooms. Sparkles’ bid was the lowest of three, with the others $720 and $1,000.
Ron Holman, maintenance supervisor, was given permission to acquire bids for painting the courthouse exterior. He also will look into new windows, of which the courthouse has 106.
