County commission hears various updates

by Patty Cheffey

The Marion County Commission covered a light agenda, hearing some updates and discussing some renovation work

Jim Bensman with MECO Engineering was present at Monday’s meeting to “remind the commissioners he was still around” and gave an update on the Taylor bridge.

He also told the commissioners he had been up to check on the Taylor bridge and noted it is holding up and the rock is all still in place.

Mike Schaefer, highway supervisor, said the Fabius River has not flooded this year, so there hasn’t been any water over the road leading up to the bridge.

Schaefer also reported MoDOT has completed its bridge inspections for the county, but he has not received a report yet.

Western District Commissioner Steve Begley asked Schaefer to contact the railroad about the crossing on County Road 266 to have some repair work done if the county is considering doing any blacktopping on that road this year.

Sheriff Jimmy Shinn was also in attendance to ask if he needed to seek bids for some renovation work in the dispatch and kitchen areas of the jail.

As it appears the work will cost less than $10,000, bids will not be needed.

Shinn noted he is hoping to put on the same epoxy flooring as what was put on in the Palmyra Courthouse.

Harry Graves, county collector, has requested one of the parking spots at the Hannibal Courthouse, currently allotted to the Sheriff’s Department.

Shinn said he has no problems with Graves using one, provided it is not one of the two used by the Sheriff’s Department to drop off prisoners for court.