County officials discuss bridge projects

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by Patty Cheffey

Bridges to be built were the topic of discussion during Monday’s Marion County Commission meeting.

Teya Stice, county coordinator, reported she had gotten an update from MECO Engineering on the two bridges, one on County Road 230 and County Road 281 over Big Branch, and heard from the Mark Twain Regional Council of Governments on the Whittaker Bridge.

MECO Engineering is currently working on hydraulics and on the hydrological analysis on the Big Branch bridges, Stice said. That information will be used to determine structure, size and type of bridges to be built.

MECO Engineering is also working on the environmental and historical impacts for both bridges as well.

Stice also reported the county can now proceed with choosing and signing an engineering firm to begin work on the Whittaker bridge for design and inspection.

However, the MTRCG will need to see the contract before the county accepts it if it is less than $100,000, which Stice said it will be.

The county also approved a request for Cares Act funding from the Hannibal Nutrition Center.

Although they had requested $125,000 after having replaced their HVAC system and for the rising costs of food, the commissioners approved $55,000 to help with the HVAC system.

In  making the motion Western District Commissioner Steve Begley noted that while the issues with the heating and air conditioning were unexpected, the nutrition center should have seen the rising cost of food coming and taken some steps to help counter that. 

Eastern District Commissioner Larry Welch abstained from the vote as he has a relative on that board of directors.

Also in her report, Stice said Tournear was about half way completed with the jail roof, but since the half done was the more complicated side, it should not take as long to finish the rest of it.