The Cole County Commission last Wednesday agreed to expand Russellville's improvement project under the county's small community cooperative project fund because of expected savings due to low bids.
"This improvement project on Marion Street that they are doing had bids come in really low, which freed up over $100,000 to spend on additional items," Cole County Public Works Director Eric Landwehr said. "With this supplemental agreement with the county, they'll be able to increase the scope of the project allowing them to add some overlay on Marion and an adjacent street (Simpson Street) tied to the project."
Landwehr said Russellville secured a $500,000 community development block grant through the state, which was added to the $220,000 grant they got from the county.
In January of 2018, the commission set up cooperative project funding guidelines for the seven small communities in the county - Centertown, Lohman, Russellville, St. Martins, St. Thomas, Taos and Wardsville - to get part of $800,000 in the county's half-cent capital improvement sales tax to be used for "substantial improvements."
The Cole County Road and Bridge Advisory Committee ranked the projects, and the commission awarded funds based on those rankings.
The money could be used for any road and bridge-related project, including stormwater improvements or sidewalk and intersection improvements. The maximum funding per project was $250,000.
In August of 2018, the commission awarded Russellville the money for reconstruction of Marion Street, including sidewalk work.
Reconstruction of Marion includes restoration/addition of curb and gutter and detention mechanisms to accommodate and direct stormwater and snowmelt in low-lying areas, according to documents filed with the county. Russellville city officials said water was pooling under the street surface and onto private property due to lack of infrastructure. Under the agreement with the county, Russellville had two years to get the project bid; but with the money to do the additional work from the CDBG grant, the commission agreed to give Russellville another year to complete the bidding.