Commissioners discuss hail damaged courthouse, juvenile justice center roofs

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by Patty Cheffey

Although still gathering information, the Marion County Commission is looking at repairs to the Hannibal Courthouse and Juvenile Justice Center roofs.

Both roofs were damaged in a hail storm this spring, and while, originally, not thought to be extensively damaged, the commission has since learned there is more damage than originally thought.

Currently, the commission is seeking additional information from their insurance company, and learned the incident, as a single occurrence, will only be one deductible, although damage is on two different roofs.

They also discussed the need to seek bids and being allowed to only repair the shingles, rather than the shingles and the dome on the Hannibal Courthouse, if they choose to do that.

Teya Stice, county coordinator, also reported she had verified they would have to pay prevailing wage.

In other business, the commissioners again discussed lighting on Veterans Road, with Larry Welch, Eastern District commissioner, reporting he had met with the city of Hannibal and their board of public works on making it a joint project.

The Hannibal BPW attorney is checking to see if they can work with REC on the project, since there is a question of territories, Welch said.

In the meantime, the commissioners said they plan to move ahead with trying to get a TAP grant to help with the cost of the project.

Steve Begley, Western District commissioner, noted he will pursue the engineering study with the Mark Twain Regional Council of Governments, and notify the other commissioners of costs for that.

Since it could take a year to get some of the supplies for the project, the commissioners voted to proceed as quickly as possible with the grant application, which is due by Aug. 25.

At some point, Welch pointed out, MoDOT would have to get involved as the project will include going under or over Route MM.

Upon the request from an individual who said he had crossed a set of railroad tracks at which the arm had not come down although there was a maintenance vehicle on the tracks, Mike Schaefer, county highway supervisor, said he would check with the railroad to make sure the arms are in working order.

The commissioners also:

• approved and signed the annual Code of Ethics;

• learned DNR will look at a possible trash situation on County Road 365. Stice said she would report back on that once she had information;

• learned Tournear had started work on the roof last week;

• heard from Stice that Allen’s Carpet is having a difficult time getting help, but should have someone available to finish the tiling job in the Palmyra Courthouse within the next couple of weeks;

• approved the matching $350 for John Janes, county surveyor, to do one remonumentation corner this year. That amount was already budgeted;

• learned the county will need to purchase filters for the air conditioning units at both Palmyra and Hannibal, and as they are custom-sized, there will be additional cost to that;

• heard an update from Chariton Valley fiber cable, who said they will be applying for funding to do the Taylor/West Quincy area during the next round of funding; and

• briefly discussed whether or not there is a hemlock problem in the county. As hemlock is a poisonous weed, the county is considering what steps to take if there is a problem.