Staff writer
Drainage issues for county roads caused headaches for county commissioners Monday.
Discussion became sharp when Dwight Wernli and Gordon Pendergraft, homeowners at Marion County Park and Lake, talked to commissioners about water flow on Back Bay Court.
Wernli first came to discuss the situation with commissioners two weeks ago.
Commissioner Randy Dallke said the county is trying to fix the gullies causing erosion of the road, but that residents of the lake need to do something to help with the problem.
Dallke said when people in the city of Marion have road issues, the city works on the roads.
“Our organization is the county,” Pendergraft said.
Dallke directed road and bridge superintendent Jesse Hamm to go look at the roadway and see what could be done.
Commissioners drove to the intersection of 130th Rd. and K-15 to see what is causing road flooding near Alexanderwohl Mennonite Church.
Although no official vote was taken, commissioner Lori Lalouette said the north ditch of 130th along the church property and east of the cemetery will be cleaned out and reshaped in an effort to have water drain east from the church campus and cemetery. Three new entry culverts will be installed to conform to the new ditch grade.
In other business, commissioners decided to replace an immunization refrigerator at the health department, reviewed bank bids on a lease purchase agreement for courthouse windows, voted to sponsor two people for Rural Opportunity Zone student loan payments, and made a split decision to place a GPS unit in one county grader, with Lalouette voting against the measure.