County nixes city’s road work request

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by Patty Cheffey

The Marion County Commission turned down a request from the city of Palmyra to help pay the cost for a road overlay.

Austin Dornberger, Palmyra Street Department head, was present at Monday’s commission meeting to ask if the county would share the cost to mill and overlay Marion City Road from Warren Drive to the county’s gravel lot.

Also Monday, the commission voiced no objection to a request to install two houses on subdivided property in Emerson provided she meets health department requirements, discussed ditch work and a request about road work and reviewed the budget.

According to Dornberger, costs for materials for the milling and overlay of Marion City Road have gone up, and the 320 tons of material needed will cost $118 a ton for a total of $38,000.

Although the county budget is in excellent shape right now, the commissioners noted the issue could be when other communities in the county also ask for assistance in improving roads.

They also noted such an item was not budgeted and the county had other priorities.

In other business, Margaret  Click was present to discuss putting two houses on property in Emerson which is already platted.

She noted she had already visited with Frank Lemongelli at the Marion County Health Department, who told her as long as she could get the two necessary lagoons on the property correctly, he would sign off on it.

Commissioners noted that was good enough for them.

While Click plans to put up rental properties, she noted she wanted to do things correctly so if she chooses to sell in the future, the properties will be good to go.

Commissioners also met with Matt Shade concerning cleaning out ditches on County Road 232 that fill up with dirt in heavy rains and water comes across his field.

County Highway Supervisor Mike Schaefer said the ditches will be dug out, but time and the weather are factors as it has to be dry to do so.

In reviewing the budget, County Clerk Valerie Dornberger noted that at this time of year, revenues and expenditures should both be at 50 percent for all funds.

Most funds are at the 50 percent or better for revenue, including General Revenue at 59 percent; Highway at 78 percent; and Road Fund at 51 percent;  with only Capital Improvements slightly less at 45 percent.

Expenditures, overall are running 50 percent or less, including General Revenue, 50 percent, Highway, 58 percent; Road, 27 percent; and Capital Improvements, 50 percent.

Dornberger noted some individual accounts are higher in expenses, but many are below the 50 percent.

She also noted the county has received its final ARPA fund payment.

The commissioners also reviewed the fund balances with the combined General Revenue and Road and Bridge sitting at $3,528,255.26, compared to $2,351,860.19 in June 2021.

Sales tax is up slightly for all funds except Capital Improvements, but all funds are running higher than a year ago.

The commissioners also:

• approved a buyout of vacation time for an employee;

• turned down a request to raise a road in a flood plain; and

• heard an update on Chariton Valley’s fiber work throughout the county.