By KEN CARPENTER
Great Bend Post
The Barton County Commission agreed to accept a grant from the Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) to resurface SW 40 Avenue, better known as Airport Road. The road falls under the jurisdiction of both the county and the City of Great Bend. Construction costs were estimated last year at $800,000.
County Engineer Barry McManaman shared the details of the grant with County Commissioners last week.
“KDOT will reimburse us for 75% of the actual cost so their maximum reimbursement will be $600,000. Any amounts over the $800,000 amount will be at the local cost. The City of Great Bend has also agreed in principle on every occasion that we have applied to split the local cost with us.”
McManaman told commissioners that KDOT officials approved the cost-sharing grant after the county had applied for it five times.
Jennifer Schartz, the commission's longest-serving member, was pleased with McManaman's approach to getting the funding.
“This is something that’s been on the commissioners’ desk for years to get that project done,” Schartz commented. “It would all have been on our dime had we not been able to wait for grant funding and for the city to chip in its fair share.”
Airport Road will be resurfaced from the intersection with US-56 north to the intersection with Barton County Road. Barton County will be responsible for designing, advertising and administering the project.