Mapleton asks county to pave Maple Road; commissioners ask staff to explore costs and city contribution

Mapleton Mayor Mike Houston asked Bourbon County to consider paving Maple Road — a stretch that would connect State Highway 31 to 120 Fifth — after the city lost a grant that had previously funded maintenance. Public works provided an estimate of roughly 700 tons of material and a cost estimate of about $36,729 to pave the segment.

Commissioners discussed whether the road should be added to next year’s asphalt plan or handled this year by using county crushed rock and manpower. Some commissioners said the route forms a useful interconnect between recently paved Highway 31 and county roads and noted recreational traffic to a nearby rock-climbing park and that it is a school-bus route. Others urged caution because the county must balance the crushed-rock supply, labor and other municipal requests (Fort Scott earlier asked for crushed rock). One commissioner suggested requiring Mapleton to pay for material and that the county could provide labor if schedules and inventory permit.

A commissioner moved for staff to contact public works and, if resources and materials allow, proceed; that motion was seconded. After additional discussion about the city’s potential contribution and a bridge-match requirement (a $100,000 match referenced elsewhere in county planning), the mover withdrew the motion and the item was tabled for further information. The board asked staff to return with firm material availability, confirmed cost shares from Mapleton if any, and whether the County can meet the project without disrupting other planned work.