On time… and (mostly) on budget

On time… and (mostly) on budget

Marion completes Patriot Drive paving before school starts, city turns eye on eroding pond at complex

news@theeveningtimes.com

The overlay of Patriot Drive in Marion is finished and on budget — almost.

Marion Road Department manager Gordon Floyd told the City Council that the project has been finished and came in right around the price they budgeted.

“We budgeted $166,000,” Floyd said. “We spent $166,006.65. We were over by $6.65.”

The report drew laughs from the council.

“You’re a pretty good estimator,” said Mayor Frank Fogleman.

“It scared me a little when we got in there and saw all that had to be done,” Floyd continued. “But I think we did a good job on it. I think it will hold up for several years.”

Marion road crews overlaid Patriot Drive and also improved the shoulders and drainage. The city is now in the process of fixing the parking lots.

“We’re working on some of the broken spots in the concrete in the parking lot,” Floyd said. “And we are sealing all the cracks out there. The school has agreed to work with us on that.”

Councilman Don Hanks praised Floyd and his department

for the job they

did.

“It looks real good,” Hanks said.

“I know the school is pleased,” Fogleman added.

In other business:

• The council heard an update from Parks and Recreation Director Andy Rawls about the repair work at the pond at the Sports Complex.

“They were out there surveying sections and figuring out how much of the bank has been lost and how much is going to have to be pulled up,” Rawls said.

“Things are starting to move.

The pond was built in 1997 but the banks have been steadily eroding over the years due to wave erosion caused by the wind.

The project to restore the banks and erect rip rap to protect it from further erosion is expected to cost about $265,000.

• Floyd also reported that the insurance company has settled the claim on the city’s wrecked garbage truck for $225,000. The vehicle was totaled after it overturned last month while out picking up garbage.

Floyd said the city can take the $225,000 payoff or buy the truck for salvage for $50,000.

“I don’t figure we need the truck,” Floyd said. “So I told them in an e-mail to send the check,” Floyd

said. “They’re supposed to be sending us all the paperwork

on it.”

City Treasurer David

Rikard said the settlement should be enough to cover the city’s remaining cost of the truck.

“We should come out about even on that,” Rikard said.

Fogleman said he is pleased with the settlement. “As long as it’s more than we owe,” Fogleman said.

“We should at worst break even. That will help some of that $6.65 that Gordon is over (on Patriot Drive). So unless someone has a burning desire to buy the salvage, I think we should accept it.”

By Mark Randall