Public Works: road projects moving, windows and EMS work advancing; county signs easement for rural water tower

John Ellerman, Riley County Public Works Director, briefed commissioners on ongoing projects and staffing at the March 10 meeting and the commission approved an agreement and easement allowing Rural Water District No. 1 to install a water tower at the Public Works campus.

Ellerman said Kitten Creek Colford work is nearing completion with backfilling and grading continuing and that Winkler Road remains the last scheduled half-cent sales tax project; survey kickoff coordination with the city was underway. He told commissioners that custom windows for the public-facing building are being ordered now that a contractor has been selected, and that roofing, elevator and EMS headquarters work is progressing through planning and invoicing: "They should be ordered now that they have a contractor to go," Ellerman said of the custom windows.

Ellerman also listed routine maintenance and operations activities — playground safety inspections, tree trimming and grinding, grading and cold-weather pours for poured wall work — and said crews had performed asphalt patching and gravel road maintenance. He noted public-works staffing moves, recruitment and possible position reclassifications to cover expanded responsibilities if the county assumes water-and-sewer operator duties after the incumbent operator (HPS) provided notice of intent to stop service.

On the water tower, Ellerman presented an easement and site plan for a proposed Rural Water District No. 1 tower (location option 2) and asked the commission to approve an agreement to allow KDHE to proceed. Commissioners voted to approve the easement; Ellerman and staff will coordinate hydrant and valve installation and provide KDHE with the signed easement by the date requested.

Speakers quoted or paraphrased in this article are drawn from the public-works portion of the meeting transcript.