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Public Works reports bridge openings, road projects and staffing changes
Summary
Riley County Public Works provided project updates on completed structures, upcoming road designs and staff hires; managers said a bridge was opened, Marla Road design coordination with the city was imminent and several staffing offers were made.
Public Works Director John Ellerman briefed the Riley County Commission on April 14 with a monthly project update that covered completed bridge work, upcoming road projects, building maintenance and personnel changes.
Ellerman reported the Kitten Creek bridge (noted as completed and open to traffic) and said one remaining structure was pending property changes before the county could proceed to bid. He said the department planned a design meeting with the city soon for Marla Road, and that traffic counters and turning‑movement counts had been or would be collected to determine whether left‑turn lanes were needed at key intersections.
Ellerman said Campbell (a roadway or intersection referenced by staff) had re-opened after a short shutdown for work and that the Denison project was expected to re-open to the south in mid to late June. He also described park clean-up and maintenance activities, gravel-hauling and grading in preparation for summer road treatments, and a new driveway pour for Zingdale fire station.
On facilities, Ellerman said elevator repair work in one county office building produced vibration and noise because a replacement motor did not match the original; he described a planned modernization several years out. He said preconstruction meetings were scheduled for a courthouse remodel and for other projects funded through local sales-tax programs, and staff had been reviewing consultant qualifications for those projects.
On staffing, Ellerman said the county had made offers for a purchasing agent and a building maintenance technician (the building maintenance candidate had accepted), and he planned a reorganization that would convert a traffic control supervisor position into an assistant operations manager; he anticipated bringing job descriptions and an organizational chart to the commission soon. He also reported some seasonal parks hires and a public works operator resignation that the department planned to refill.
Ellerman said work continued with rural water districts on tower/tank construction and that budget season work was underway. He asked commissioners for guidance on organizational items he planned to bring forward to the commission in coming weeks.
