Tire removal project to wait another week

By PAT SHAVER Courier staff writer

June 02, 2009 11:25 pm

— OTTUMWA — The Wapello County Board of Supervisors will wait another week to take any action on the tire removal project along Cemetery Road.
The supervisors hope to reach an agreement with the property owner where the more than 1,000 tires were left. Since the county is cleaning up the tires at no cost to the property owner, the county requested she allow a bike trail easement on her property. But Supervisor Jerry Parker said after a few conversations, the property owner was hesitant.
“Up to this point, she’s been very cooperative,” Parker said at the supervisor’s meeting Tuesday morning. “But she doesn’t want to give us an easement for the bike trail.”
Supervisor Greg Kenning said the abandoned tires are a health hazard and should be the primary concern.
“I say let’s deal with the health and safety problem first and then down the line we could deal with the bike trail,” Kenning said.
The project will cost $5,980 for the contractor to haul the tires plus the costs for trucks to take the tires away. The project is being funded through a community disaster grant.
Chairman Steve Siegel requested that the board waits another week to take any action, hoping the property owner agrees to the bike trail easement.
Wapello County Engineer Brian Moore gave a brief update on the Chillicothe bridge project, and talked about a few possible delays in getting the construction going.
The Chillicothe bridge construction involves planning around the railroad lines that run nearby, and Moore said in the initial agreement with the railroad, they requested that if another railroad crossing is added, that the county get rid of one.
Moore said that the county has been granted archeological approval and preliminary environmental approval for the project.
“We need something in hand before we go purchase right-of-way and we’re almost ready to go do that,” said Moore.
Other action and discussion at the meeting:
• The supervisors set a date for a public hearing on disposal of county property for 9:30 a.m. June 16 in the board room at the county courthouse. There are a two lots on Grove Street that are in the county’s name and the treasurer’s office has been trying to get rid of, Parker said. Someone has shown interest in purchasing the lots. The supervisors already approved the sale, but are required to hold a public hearing.
• Carol Logan, the county’s central point of coordination administrator, told the board that the Wapello County Long-term Disaster Recovery Committee has asked the Christian Reformed World Relief Committee, also called the Green Shirts, to assess flood-damaged properties where people had applied for FEMA funds. The main goal is to see if there are any unmet needs. The Green Shirts will be in the area next week.
• The board approved the 28E agreement with Southeast Iowa Case Management, which handles the county’s case management. The contract begins July 1.
• Three separate contracts were approved with Calhoun-Burns and Associates to assess and begin the design process for the following bridges: 90th Avenue in Keokuk Township, 194th Avenue in Adams Township and Point Isabelle Road in Green Township.
Moore wants planning and design ready for the bridges in case more stimulus money comes. He estimated construction for each bridge would cost around $350,000.
• Noted there is an Ag/Bio disease class from 1-4 p.m. June 29 in the Sirg Building in Ottumwa. The free class is for all pork and beef industry personnel as well as county associations and emergency managers.
Pat Shaver can be reached at (641) 683-5360 or via e-mail at p.shaver@ottumwacourier.com.