County hears MoDOT updates, OKs new firewall equipment

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by Patty Cheffey

The Marion County Commission heard an update on MoDOT’s projects, including one the county has requested.

Emily Edgar, area engineer, was present at the Marion County Commission meeting at which the commissioners also approved new computer firewall equipment and two bridge work reimbursements and discussed an ARPA fund application.

Edgar provided maps to the commissioners on projects, impacting Marion County, including those which start in another county, but end in Marion County.

When asked, she also reported the acceleration and deceleration lanes being requested by the commissioners at various locations on U.S. 61.

Inflation has pushed some of those projects back, Edgar said, noting those lanes are currently on the unfunded needs list.

However, she added, they are monitoring the funded projects, and when those cost less than anticipated, some of that funding could be used for projects on the unfunded list.

In other business, Teya Stice, county coordinator, reported it was time to renew the services and support for the security firewall for both the Hannibal and Palmyra courthouses.

However, since the county could get new equipment and a three-year service plan for $2,140.87, which is less than the cost for three years under the current plan (with no new equipment), the commissioners voted to go that route.

They also improved two reimbursement requests from MECO Engineering for design work on the two county bridges over Big Branch.

The reimbursement for work on the new bridge on County Road 281 was $3,712.82; and on County Road 230 was $3,775.83.

Stice further reported the Hannibal Nutrition Center had applied for additional ARPA funds, noting they had to replace an air conditioner and the additional expenses with the rising cost of food.

She has sent the application to the Mark Twain Regional Council of Governments to find out what in the application is allowable.

Western District Commissioner Steve Begley questioned the situation, noting he believed the commissioners had voted earlier to use any remaining ARPA funds for county projects.

Stice said she was sure there were enough funds for both, but would check on the matter.

She also gave an update on the Hannibal Courthouse hail damaged roof project, noting documents were signed last week, and the county would be getting regular updates on that project.

Eastern District Commissioner Larry Welch asked Stice if there were any plans to adopt an ordinance regulating the growing of marijuana.

Stice said she was not aware of anything, but that property  would need to be zoned agriculture.