BENTON -- County and transportation officials are looking at options for alleviating traffic congestion at Scott City.
Scott County Presiding Commissioner Martin Priggel and Jamie Burger, second district associate commissioner, met in Scott City with Ron Eskew, city administrator, and Missouri Department of Transportation and federal transportation officials Tuesday to discuss the project which will connect Scott City with the outer road which extends south from Route AB/Nash Road along the eastern side of Interstate 55.
The project, which is intended to reduce traffic congestion at the I-55/
Highway 61 interchange in Scott City, will require the construction of a bridge over Ramsey Creek.
County officials received word in August that $5 million for the project was included in the federal transportation bill.
"We discussed a time line and the environmental impact study that will need to be done," said County Developer Joel Evans of Tuesday's meeting.
In addition to discussing some of the route options for the Ramsey Creek project, officials also discussed the possibility of extending the project south of Scott City to put in a new I-55 interchange and additional link to Highway 61, according to Evans.
"It looks like it would be advantageous to do it as one project," he said.
Evans said while it would possibly slow the process for the northern Ramsey Creek project, combining the two projects may save time in the long run.
In other Scott County news:
* County officials are seeking information about the county's war memorial along with information about the original dedication services held in 1922 and 1940.
"We would like all the information we could get about the original ceremonies," Evans said.
The monument, which stands at the southeast corner of the courthouse lawn, was constructed to honor those killed in action during World War I, according to Evans.
It was dedicated on Memorial Day in 1922 with over 2,000 people attending the service.
Bronze plaques listing the names of those killed were added in a November 1940 ceremony which included a military band.
Evans said there are few details remaining about either service.
"If you have news clippings, photos or memories of the monument's dedication services, please share them with us so that they can be preserved for future generations," he said.
Information can be submitted to the Office of County Development by sending e-mail to ocd@scottcountymo.com or calling 545-3549.
* Betty Cole has agreed to be reappointed to another term on the county's Senate Bill 40 board, according to Commissioner Dennis Ziegenhorn
"She's done an excellent job in the past and we're looking forward to her reappointment," Ziegenhorn said.
The SB-40 board administers the sheltered workshop fund for the county's handicapped.
Commissioners plan to make the reappointment official Thursday.