Eleven areas were identified for projects in 2006, one of which depends on Columbia’s actions.
It was a beautiful day for a drive in the country.
Boone County commissioners Keith Schnarre, Skip Elkin and Karen M. Miller, as well as members from the county staff, spent about three hours Wednesday afternoon touring the county, examining road projects proposed for the 2006 budget.
A list prepared by the Boone County Public Works Department identified 11 areas they say need attention in the immediate future. The county currently funds roads through a quarter-cent sales tax passed in 1997. Schnarre said the amount of work needed is on a much smaller scale than many of Columbia’s recent street proposals.
“They could take all we’re using for these projects and still not touch what they need to do,” Schnarre said.
Unlike the city, the county is planning no large-scale lane-expanding projects or new construction. Most of its tasks consist of bridge, drainage or road surfacing work. Schnarre was optimistic about completing all of the listed projects.
“If we gained a little more (funds), we might be able to do them all,” he said.
Miller, the commissioner for the Southern District, was less certain all the projects were necessary and suggested the commission look for less expensive alternatives, especially at locations like Greer Road.
The Greer Road bridge was built in 1920. Elkin, the commissioner for the northern district, jokingly referred to it as the “north county landfill,” because of the collection of trash in the streambed.
“It’s a maintenance issue, not a critical issue,” Miller said, referring to a possible replacement bridge.
Nearly half of the proposed projects on the tour involve bridge repair or improvements. In places like Greer Road or Owens School Road in northern Boone County, a series of three large metal tubes is used to move water under the road. The tubes clog easily and the constant flow of water has eroded the bottoms in some cases. At the Tucker School Road location, a connector has split, separating one of the tubes into two disjointed halves.
Although the county maintains its own budget and infrastructure plan, the effects of Columbia’s continued growth often impacts its decisions. One stop on the tour was a drive along Howard Orchard Road and Brushwood Lake Road, both unimproved gravel roads in the southern part of the county. A development proposal before the Columbia City Council seeks to build on land serviced by these two roads. Such a decision might force the county to undertake major improvements to these two winding, hilly roads because of the potential influx of traffic.
“If the city approves development there will be a lot of discussion,” Schnarre said.