County hears drainage ditch complaint

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by Patty Cheffey

The Marion County Commission addressed a drainage concern and approved a bid during their meeting Monday morning.

Gale and Richelle Behring were present to discuss a drainage issue on County Road 238, stating they did not believe the county’s plan for the road would help clear up the issue.

Western District Commissioner Steve Begley said he had informed the Behring’s Monday morning prior to the meeting, the county plans to clean out the ditches on both sides and install new culverts.

However, Gale Behring said he believes moving the water from one side of the road and letting it flow naturally is the solution.

He also was upset the county had dug out the entrance to his field with no explanation, but County Highway Supervisor Mike Schaefer said that crossing was part of the problem as it was silted in dirt blocking the drainage.

The county said they could install a drain pipe at that entrance, but Behring would have to pay the cost for materials.

Presiding Commissioner David Lomax and Eastern District Commissioner Larry Welch noted the best thing to do right now is let the county progress with its plan of action and revisit the situation if need be. 

“We have to do what we believe will work,” said Welch. “I have all the confidence in Mike and Steve.”

Schaefer also noted the plan is to install as large a culvert as possible to try to help with the situation.

“But nothing is going to handle a five inch rain like we had this past weekend,” he said.

In other business, the commissioners opened two bids for road oil for asphalting, including one from Missouri Petroleum Products and one from Coastal Energy.

Coastal Energy received the bid of $2.69 a gallon for MC30; $2.49 a gallon for MC800 and $2.39 a gallon for EA300. They also have a pump charge of $75 after two hours, which Schaefer said should be adequate time to unload a load.

Missouri Petroleum was lower on its EA300 oil, but it’s fees included a $95 pump charge and a shorter unloading time.

The commissioners also had a phone call with Prosecuting Attorney Luke Bryant concerning hiring an additional attorney.

Bryant said one had been included in the 2020 budget, but after COVID hit, an attorney was never hired.

He assumed the money for the attorney had rolled over into the 2021 budget, but learned last week, after hiring the attorney, who is due to start Aug. 9, that was not the case.

While the commissioners did not believe there would be an issue with proceeding with the hiring, they asked Bryant to have the attorney wait a week to start until they can discuss the matter with County Clerk Valerie Dornberger, who was not present at Monday’s meeting.

They noted it might be possible to amend the budget to reflect a new hirer.

The commissioners also approved the fifth phase of the Clear Creek Subdivision, after hearing from Tory Smith Monday morning.

Smith noted Phase 5 featured 11 lots, on the Highway 61 side of the development.

The lots will still be outside the city limits of Hannibal.