County OKs road project, elevator repairs

Road projects and an elevator update accounted for most of the discussion during Monday's Cape Girardeau County Commission meeting.

Among the road projects discussed and ultimately approved was the extension of the County Road 510 project near Oak Ridge.

A bid was awarded earlier this year to Buchheit Construction Co. for grading improvements along 1.3 miles of the road. Recently, property owners approached the county, expressing willingness to grant easements that would allow the county to extend the project another 1.7 miles.

"I've done a lot of jobs with the highway department, and sometimes that just happens -- once the job is bid, that you're allowed to increase the scope of it," Associate Commissioner Paul Koeper said. "I think this is a job where it should be done."

County Road 510 is a primary road connecting U.S. 61 and Route D, he said, and is included on school bus routes. After grading improvements, the road would be paved.

The initial project already was on the county's list of roads to be paved next year, so Koeper said the funding is available in the Proposition 1 budget. The Prop 1 sales tax supports the sheriff's department and county roads.

Another county project went out to bid earlier this year for a lower price than anticipated, which freed up funds for the extension.

Koeper said the close estimate for the project is $104,000. A completion date of May 1 was suggested for the grading improvements, and the pavement would take place sometime next year.

Elevator

The final issue approved and discussed involved elevator-maintenance needs. A recent state inspection indicated two improvements are needed for the elevator in the aging county administration building at 1 Barton Square in Jackson.

One issue is a relay problem. Passengers attempting to go from the third floor to the second floor instead would be taken down to the first.

Koeper said finding parts for the "30-something-year-old" elevator to fix the issue was difficult, but they had been located.

The relay issue is not the one of most concern to the commissioners.

"The other thing we were written up for was the lighting on that elevator should not be hooked up to 110 volts," Koeper said. "It needs to be run through a transformer. ... That's the expensive one."

The change will cost $4,185.

County Auditor Pete Frazier suggested paying for the unexpected cost through 3 percent of the budget set aside for emergencies.

Both improvements will need to be made soon, or the elevator will have to be shut down, but Koeper said the county still has time.

srinehart@semissourian.com

(573) 388-3641

Pertinent address:

1 Barton Square, Jackson, Mo.