By MIKE COURSON
Great Bend Post
In April, the Barton County Commission approved an agreement with the Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) regarding a High-Risk Rural Roads Project that involves a no-passing zone analysis and signing improvements on roads in the southwest portion of the county. KDOT will pay for 100 percent of the design, construction, and inspection costs of the project. Tuesday morning, County Engineer Barry McManaman approached the commission about a supplemental agreement from KDOT.
"When KDOT had awarded us the money, typical with High-Risk Rural Roads Project, there is a maximum," he said. "They had stated at the time they would fund up to $171,000. I think what happened is, simply, they got to looking at the agreement, realized they made a mistake, and forgot to specify that maximum in the agreement."
While KDOT will cover the brunt of the costs, Barton County could incur some expenses but McManaman did not find that likely.
"I did speak with Kirkham Michael, and they helped out with cost estimates when we did the application," he said. "We are responsible for any right-of-way and utility costs, which I assume to be zero. We shouldn't have to move anything."
McManaman said the no-passing zone studies are important for securing future funding for road work including road striping or sign replacement.