County Commission hears request to move troublesome road

Saline County Commissioners heard about a plan to move a road entrance near Malta Bend from Jill Lilleman and Jack Harriman at their meeting Tuesday morning, March 24.

The farmers of Malta Bend have asked to move the entrance of County Road 424 onto Highway 127 about 300 feet because the current entrance is problematic for big trucks and school buses. Malta Bend Special Road District, which maintains the road, approves of the change and is willing to pay for it, Lilleman said.

Lilleman, who came to the session representing farmers, asked Commissioners how to proceed.

Presiding Commissioner Becky Plattner asked Lilleman to provide written documentation of the Road District's request. She also expressed concern about the future of land the road currently occupies.

"The county doesn't want to own a strip of land that's 100 yards long," Plattner said, meaning that the land should revert to private ownership, though Harriman said those farmers don't want it either.

In other business, commissioners reported CART funds for March 2009 at $52,372.18, which is down about $4,000 from last year. For the year, funds are down $14,539.77.

Southern District Commissioner Richard "Dick" Hassler announced that annual Memorial Day services, conducted by the American Legion and others, will be held on the courthouse lawn this summer, despite restoration construction.

The commission's next regularly scheduled meeting is Wednesday, March 24, at 9 a.m.

Contact Sydney Stonner at marshallbusiness@socket.net