The Neosho County commissioners voted to renew the county’s moratorium on considering using county resources on special commercial renewable energy projects during their regular meeting on Tuesday, June 3.
The moratorium prohibits the approval of any requests to use Neosho County roads, resources, or infrastructure for the purposes of the construction of any commercial renewable energy project within the county.
District 3 Commissioner Gail Klaassen said this moratorium would last twelve months, as the previous renditions of this action in prior years.
Steve Richey presented a formal request to the Commissioners to place a painted Freedom Rock memorial on the Neosho County Courthouse lawn, in line with the existing Memorial Wall.
Richey said the Erie City Zoning Administration said installing the rock would be feasible, and said he plans to meet with the City Council to further discuss it.
This was first brought up during the previous county commission meeting. The rock would be painted by an Iowa artist, Ray “Bubba” Sorensen II, who began painting large rocks in Iowa to honor America’s veterans. He began by painting rocks in each of Iowa’s counties and is now expanding his efforts nationwide through the 50 State Freedom Rock Tour, where he travels the country to paint patriotic monuments.
Richey said the rock would be set in concrete once selected, and that the rock would be painted a year from now, ahead of the Old Soldiers and Sailors Reunion. He said this memorial will cost $20,000, which will be funded by donations.
Commissioners also heard from Galesburg Fire Chief John Lilburn who brought forth building concerns. Lilburn said the current fire station has a mold problem due to water damage. Lilburn said remediating the mold would cost roughly $100,000, and an additional $70,000 or $80,000 to fix the issues causing water damage.
“Our best bet is to build a new building,” Lilburn said.
Estimated building costs are between $160,000-$180,000 according to Lilburn. The department is seeking out grants to help fund the cost of a new building. Lilburn said he wished to see a training facility incorporated into the new site, a place for other public services to stop in during their shift, or even the potential to house an ambulance during inclement weather to better benefit the rural residents of the county, which may increase building costs.
Lilburn also said that the Galesburg Fire Department would maintain ownership
See COMMISSION, continued on page 6 of the radios they purchased from Anderson County, and returned a check from the county reimbursing them for the purchase. Lilburn said Galesburg would maintain its radios and infrastructure they invested into for the good of the county, as desired by the fire department’s membership.
In other business, Brown said the River Bridge project was “coming along nicely.” He said the Country Club Road project was currently on hold due to needing to repair a sinkhole, and washout from recent rains.
Resident Carol Smith said a recent Culvert replacement had flooded her land during the meeting. Brown presented Google Earth images showing that the culvert was placed on a natural waterway that used to feed a nearby pond. Brown said he would remove and move the culvert to redirect the water flow.
Commissioners made a motion to approve the moving of offices in the courthouse: the appraiser’s office will move into the survey room, the register of deeds will move to the HR/payroll room, HR/ payroll will move to the current commission room, and the commissioner room will move to the basement meeting room. The health department will move into a front room. These changes will take place as Maintenance Director David Burnett has time.
The next Neosho County Commission Meeting will be on Tuesday, June 17, at 2 p.m. at the Neosho County Courthouse. Meetings are also livestreamed on YouTube on the Neosho County Commission YouTube channel.
