County to apply for TAP grant to fund Vets Road lighting

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by Patty Cheffey

The Marion County Commission is under a pretty tight deadline, but is proceeding with applying for a grant to put lighting on at least part of Veterans Road.

The county has hired Mike Teel, an engineer with Great River Engineering, to write the application for a Transportation Alternative Program grant, which, although normally for non-motorized traffic program a “small caveat for lighting,” he said.

Teel was at Monday’s commission meeting to review the documents which will be necessary in order to apply for the grant, which has a deadline of Aug. 24.

In addition to the application and description of the project, which includes installing lights from Paris Gravel Road to West Ely Road and further if funds are available, Teel noted the county would need letters of support.

“I will request letters from MoDOT and from Cindy Hultz (with the Mark Twain Regional Council of Governments,” he said, noting the county needs to ask civic leaders, the ambulance district, hospital administration and neighbors of the project, to write letters of support.

Teel indicated he will also take care of the location drawings and the budget. 

He noted the Hannibal Board of Public Works had already done some preliminary work, which he hopes to include, if it meets MoDOT standards for this type of project.

The county will be asking for a $500,000 grant, and will include a $100,000 match. The county will include a resolution stating their intent to do the match as part of the paperwork submitted to the state.

Teel also noted preliminary data indicates lighting on both sides of Veterans Road, but said alternating from one side to the other will double the conduit costs.

Steve Begley, Western District commissioner, confirmed the LED lights would project out far enough to light both sides of the road and said he felt lights down one side of the road should be sufficient. 

Teel said he would confirm that would meet MoDOT’s approval before proceeding.

Begley also noted REC confirmed the county would be able to run off the meter which is located at the south end of the project.

Teel added he would be coordinating with the city and with MoDOT to see if there would be help available there with the project.

In other business, the commissioners approved allowing the Hannibal Police Department and Flock Safety to install a license plate reading camera on the west side of Veterans Road near Veterans School’s first west entrance.

The solar powered camera will “assist with criminal investigation,” according to an email Schaefer said he had received.

In her report, Teya Stice, county coordinator, said work had started on the sidewalks at the Hannibal Courthouse and painting is to start at the Palmyra Courthouse this week.

She is also working on a contract with the public adjustor to work with the county’s insurance concerning the roof damage from hail at the Hannibal Courthouse.

The commissioners will be writing a resolution in support of designating Highway 36 from Highway 61 to the Highway 24 split (at the Rocket) to Interstate 72.

According to Presiding Commissioners David Lomax, Rep. Louis Riggs asked for the resolution as he is working on a source of more federal funding.

The commissioners also reviewed the sales taxes for July, which are up, and the fund balances, which are down slightly, as presented by Marla Meyers, county clerk.

Meyers also reported she had received a letter from the Missouri Department of Conservation stating the county would be receiving its 2020 payment in lieu of taxes soon.