Western District Commissioner Ricky Zweerink is unsure how to go about repairing a county road where many residents refuse to purchase culverts needed to address drainage issues.
Zweerink said, to fully repair Raleigh Road, about five or six culverts need to be placed, costing $300 to $400 each. Zweerink said residents incur the costs of new culverts and the county places them.
Until the drainage issue is addressed, Zweerink said there is only so much he can do.
“I don't know what to do with it,” Zweerink said. “Nobody'll do it; they will not do it.”
Zweerink said he, and other residents, have attempted to get culverts placed previously, but received resistance from many residents who either don't want to pay or can't afford a culvert.
Robert Bruce Taylor, of Red Bone Road, attended Thursday's Commission meeting to inquire about repairs to his road, in addition to Raleigh Road. Taylor said he has lived on Red Bone for about six years and has never seen a grader on his road.
Taylor said for the last five years, he has been maintaining the road using his tractor.
Zweerink said he was unaware the county had ownership of Red Bone until about three months ago, but he would gladly send a crew to Red Bone to make any necessary repairs.
“(If) you'll call, it'll be bladed,” Zweerink said.
As for Raleigh Road, Zweerink said the road needs be raised for more permanent repairs, but that requires residents to purchase and allow the placement of culverts. Without culverts, Zweerink said he could patch the road, but it would only be a temporary fix lasting about two or three months before the problems reappear.
Taylor said though he would like to see repairs to Raleigh Road, he understands Zweerink's predicament.
“You can't change their minds,” Taylor said. “There's nothing you can do about the culverts.”
Eastern District Commissioner Bill Farnham said one possible solution would be to check and see whether the road has ever been officially deeded to the county and check on the length and right-of-way of the road.
“It may belong to you enough that you can put it in,” Farnham said.
Zweerink said many county roads have never been officially deeded to the county and would check on the status of Raleigh Road.
In other business, Presiding Commissioner Don McCulloch said people should be aware that Missouri Route 17 at the Osage River Bridge is closed through Monday for the completion of a bridge replacement.
The route was closed Thursday and traffic has been detoured on Missouri routes 17, C, 42, 54 and 52. The bridge will reopen Monday after a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 10 a.m.
This new bridge was the first project in the nation to get under way as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. It is eight feet wider than the existing structure and includes shoulders to increase safety. Nearly one-half mile of new roadway was constructed to improve sight distance on the south side of the bridge.
APAC – Kansas City division was awarded the $8.5 million contract to construct the new Osage River Bridge and to eventually demolish the existing structure. The project supported 240 direct, indirect and induced jobs.
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Western District Commissioner Ricky Zweerink is unsure how to go about repairing a county road where many residents refuse to purchase culverts needed to address drainage issues.
Zweerink said, to fully repair Raleigh Road, about five or six culverts need to be placed, costing $300 to $400 each. Zweerink said residents incur the costs of new culverts and the county places them.
Until the drainage issue is addressed, Zweerink said there is only so much he can do.
“I don't know what to do with it,” Zweerink said. “Nobody'll do it; they will not do it.”
Zweerink said he, and other residents, have attempted to get culverts placed previously, but received resistance from many residents who either don't want to pay or can't afford a culvert.
Robert Bruce Taylor, of Red Bone Road, attended Thursday's Commission meeting to inquire about repairs to his road, in addition to Raleigh Road. Taylor said he has lived on Red Bone for about six years and has never seen a grader on his road.
Taylor said for the last five years, he has been maintaining the road using his tractor.
Zweerink said he was unaware the county had ownership of Red Bone until about three months ago, but he would gladly send a crew to Red Bone to make any necessary repairs.
“(If) you'll call, it'll be bladed,” Zweerink said.
As for Raleigh Road, Zweerink said the road needs be raised for more permanent repairs, but that requires residents to purchase and allow the placement of culverts. Without culverts, Zweerink said he could patch the road, but it would only be a temporary fix lasting about two or three months before the problems reappear.
Taylor said though he would like to see repairs to Raleigh Road, he understands Zweerink's predicament.
“You can't change their minds,” Taylor said. “There's nothing you can do about the culverts.”
Eastern District Commissioner Bill Farnham said one possible solution would be to check and see whether the road has ever been officially deeded to the county and check on the length and right-of-way of the road.
“It may belong to you enough that you can put it in,” Farnham said.
Zweerink said many county roads have never been officially deeded to the county and would check on the status of Raleigh Road.
In other business, Presiding Commissioner Don McCulloch said people should be aware that Missouri Route 17 at the Osage River Bridge is closed through Monday for the completion of a bridge replacement.
The route was closed Thursday and traffic has been detoured on Missouri routes 17, C, 42, 54 and 52. The bridge will reopen Monday after a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 10 a.m.
This new bridge was the first project in the nation to get under way as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. It is eight feet wider than the existing structure and includes shoulders to increase safety. Nearly one-half mile of new roadway was constructed to improve sight distance on the south side of the bridge.
APAC – Kansas City division was awarded the $8.5 million contract to construct the new Osage River Bridge and to eventually demolish the existing structure. The project supported 240 direct, indirect and induced jobs.
