Allen County commissioners will consider a request from USD 257 to use a portion of the old James Implement building, 510 N. State St., for a bus barn. A compound for parking the district’s 26 buses would be inside a fenced area that would be constructed just west of the building.
Part of the building is used to house emergency vehicles.
Scott Stanley, director of operations for the district, told commissioners Tuesday morning the district would be willing to upgrade the building, including roof work, if expenses were recognized in a lease agreement.
For years the district has parked buses year-round about two blocks south, behind Boren Roofing’s warehouse and office, and paid $750 a year for the privilege. Now, the owner wants to sell and, Stanley said, the district would prefer a place where buses could be taken indoors for mechanical work and oil changes.
“We have a mechanic (Gabe Gregg), but there’s not much that could be done on a gravel parking lot,” Stanley said.
Stanley proposed a five-year lease with an option for a second five years.
County Counselor Alan Weber was advised of the discussions and will look into particulars of the proposal.
Brian Pekarek, superintendent of schools, wondered whether next Tuesday would be too soon to expect a decision. Commissioners were reluctant to put the proposal on a short leash.
“I assume we could hash out the details,” said Commissioner Dick Works. “But, I’d like to think about it. It’s new to me.”
In addition to having access for mechanical work out of the elements, Stanley said having a larger bus storage compound would be a blessing.
“The area we have now is 165 by 140 feet and it’s pretty tight when all the buses are there,” he said.
The parking area on county property was proposed at 220 by 160 feet.
Stanley said bus access would be arranged so as not to interfere with the traffic of emergency vehicles coming from the county’s ambulance station southwest of the old James building, which in more recent years was a warehouse for Heartland Electric.
GENE MYRICK, representing a parents group that is planning an Iola High School after-prom party fundraiser, was given permission to use parts of the courthouse lawn for an event on Oct. 29. It will run into the wee hours of the morning and include a race similar to the Charley Melvin Mad Bomber Run, he said.
The course will trail through Highland Cemetery.
Commissioners didn’t agree to opening the courthouse for restroom access, though, and encouraged Myrick to arrange for portable facilities.
District Court and probation offices will get facelifts with a new coat of paint.
Dina Morrison, court clerk, was given permission for half the cost of the projects to come from general courthouse upkeep funds, the rest from court coffers.
Ron Holman, courthouse maintenance supervisor, will paint the court offices, because of sensitive information that might be accessible, and Morrison said she would seek bids for painting the probation office in the courthouse basement.
Bill King, director of Public Works, will seek a Kansas Department of Transportation grant to pay 75 percent of an estimated $50,000 upgrade of the airport fueling system. He said the work would greatly improve volume of fueling, which would encourage larger aircraft to stop for refueling.
Treasurer Sharon Utley received permission to write off slightly more than $2,800 in uncashed checks issued by the county. Those of $50 or more will require a notification letter, she said.
Also, Utley said just 3.98 percent of delinquent taxes were collected after a list of the overdue taxes recently was published in the Register. The total is $379,777.09; of that, $15,139.11 has been paid.
Last year $23,121.77, or 6.98 percent, of overdue taxes totaling $330,887.13 was paid by late August.
