Progress made on Cherry Street bridge

Union County Secondary Roads Superintendent Al Hysell told the board of supervisors Monday work is developing on replacing a bridge on Cherry Street south of the Creston airport.

Work started on replacing the bridge in the spring. Hysell said some untimely rains have slowed progress on the work. Hysell told the supervisors county crews are capable of replacing up to three bridges a year without contract help. The county can use retired railroad cars for bridge replacement.

In other construction-related news, Hysell told the supervisors the state worked on portions of U.S. Highway 34 between Creston and Thayer to repair the center-line rumble strips. Hysell said the rumble strips, which had been in place for years, is causing some deterioration of the road. With the indentations, the free-and-thaw cycle breaks up the road surface. Supervisor Rick Friday said he is in favor of the rumble strips because of their intended purpose to warn drivers of crossing the center line. Hysell expects the rumble strips to be installed on the layer of applied asphalt.

The Federal Highway Administration noted in 2009 rural two-lane roads with rumble strips have reduced car crashes by 45%. Rumble strips on urban two-lane roads have reduced crashes by 64%.

The portion of U.S. Highway 169 south of Lorimor opened Friday afternoon. It had been closed most of the summer for a bridge repair.

In other county news...

Supervisors approved for Cory Mitchell to purchase properties in Thayer that have back taxes not paid with a contingency. According to Union County Treasurer Kelly Busch, Mitchell proposed $1 for four adjacent properties in the 200 block of Third Avenue. Busch said to prevent a precedent, she suggested having him pay the total minimum tax asking of $792 and waive fees and penalties. Supervisors approved Busch’s suggestion.

Supervisors scheduled a public hearing at 10 a.m., Oct. 2 for changes to the general assistance ordinance. Supervisors are proposing to increase the general assistance allowance from $300 to $750 for a one-time use a year. Typically, those funds are used for rent and supervisors are aware rental housing in the county can’t be found for $300 a month. Supervisors are reviewing and updating ordinances, if needed. Another change for the same public hearing is increasing the rate to 150% of the poverty guidelines for people applying for the benefits.

Chad Woods and Jim Bristow are both new part-time employees for the county’s buildings and grounds maintenance department.

A fireworks display permit was approved for a show Oct. 7 at the Union County Fairgrounds in Afton.