County approves CARES Act funding, grant paperwork
by Patty Cheffey
Several more CARES Act fund applications were approved while the Marion County Commission also signed paperwork for a Brownfield Assessment Grant.
All but one of the 16 grant applications were approved during Monday’s commission meeting, although some only received partial funding. One was tabled with the commissioners noting they needed additional information.
Those received 100 percent approval of their requested amounts included the Marion County Library, subdistrict #1, $2,357.65; the Palmyra Fire Department, $17,783.03; and the Marion County R-II Fire Department, up to $77,000.

The Marion County Commission Monday discussed needed repairs to the historic marker on the courthouse grounds.
Both of the fire department’s requests are for reimbursements as none of the equipment which they will be purchasing with the funds has been ordered yet.
The Palmyra R-I School District also received funds in the amount of $125,261.73 to pay for hot spots.
Marion County R-II School District received $74,654 in funds.
Also receiving funds were Huck’s Transportation, $28,695.58; Danni Nicole’s, $1,114.72; Hannibal Jaycees, $7,310.51; Rebel Pig, $20,349.92; Marion County Emergency Services, $27,818.48; Riverside Restaurant, $34,746.93; Teddyco Hospitality, $13,560.07; Saints Avenue Restaurant, $61,593.60; Hannibal Public Schools, $336,420; and Monroe City Schools, $19,447.97.
Tin Pin Alley was tabled.
In other business, the commissioners met with Corey Mahaffey, who presented the commissioners with paperwork to sign as the Port Authority will be seeking a Brownfield Assessment grant.
That $600,000 grant will be used to identify older buildings and sites, which could contain hazardous materials, such as asbestos. Sites will be considered in both Hannibal and Palmyra.
Once those sites have been identified, other grants will be applied for with those funds being used for the actual clean-up.
Teya Stice, county improvement coordinator, also gave a brief bridge work update, noting everything is currently on hold until they receive their soft-match.
She also requested a reimbursement for $545.43 for design work for the County Road 402 bridge.
Several other repair items were discussed including the need to advertise bids for the sealing and striping of all parking lots at both courthouses.
In addition, Western District Commissioners asked Stice to check with MoDOT about repairing the Palmyra history sign on the Palmyra Courthouse lawn. MoDOT originally donated the sign to the county.
He also asked about the possibility of painting the statue on the top of the Palmyra Courthouse.
Stice reported the flag pole at the Palmyra Courthouse will be painted soon.