County will assist in subdivision paving

CHARLESTON -- Subdivision residents in Mississippi County will pay to have their streets paved but the county will assist to make sure things are done right and to comply with MoDOT's requirements.

County commissioners discussed Thursday action that needs to be taken for a couple of subdivisions that are planning on blacktopping their roads this season.

In order to pave Dalton Lane in the Dogwood neighborhood where it meets Highway B, the Missouri Department of Transportation requires "winging" the road to the junction -- widening it in an arc -- to keep the intersection from deteriorating from cars cutting the corners as they get onto the state road, according to Presiding Commissioner Jim Blumenberg. MoDOT also requires either asphalt 9 inches deep or concrete 8 inches deep, he said.

Blumenberg said this subdivision's residents have opted for the concrete.

MoDOT also requires a $1,500 performance bond for connecting to a state highway.

Blumenberg said a MoDOT official advised him that the same performance bond could also fulfill the requirement for two streets in the Otis Brooks subdivision residents are having paved that will connect to Highway 105.

Commissioners agreed to have the county put up the performance bond money for the the three connections.

"When the job is done to their specifications, (MoDOT) will refund the $1,500," Blumenberg said.

Commissioners also agreed to pay the cost of adding two feet of width and winging out the Steve Jones subdivision road where it hooks to Millar Road as this will prevent deterioration of the county roads at that intersection. Blumenberg estimated the cost to do so will be under $400.

In other business Thursday:

* Commissioner Homer Oliver provided another update on the contractor's efforts to lower the water level in Ditch 23.

"He's got water movement," Oliver said. "He's going to have to go a little further south and get that plug out."

Oliver reported that at the bridge on Ironbanks Road, "he removed as much of the obstructions as he can with a drag line."

The water level is still high in the culverts at County Road 320, however, according to Oliver.

Oliver said he thinks the county needs to get additional right-of-way on the ditch's west bank so they can remove some trees and have room for spoil dirt pulled from the ditch as piling it on top of the east bank will just cause it to slough in again.

* Commissioners rejected a proposal from Charleston city officials to split the $5,400 cost of preliminary engineering for proposed improvements on Ditch 14 where it runs through the city.

Blumenberg said the county will maintain the ditch once improvements are completed but will not be involved in the costs of the improvements city officials want for that section of the ditch.