No sharing roadwork bill
Douglas County commissioners won’t be pumping $277,715 into an upcoming rebuilding of Kasold Drive — at least not directly, and certainly not right now.
Wednesday afternoon, commissioners unanimously rejected a city request for the money, which would have helped defray the city’s estimated $6.5 million project cost already slated to be covered by state transportation funds and revenues from a citywide sales tax.
The project to rebuild Kasold, from Clinton Parkway to 31st Street, is set to start later this year. Upon completion in 2011, engineers would expect more vehicles to turn south onto East 1200 Road, which connects Kasold with the South Lawrence Trafficway and beyond.
Commissioners agreed that the project was appropriate, but questioned why the county would contribute money. Commissioner Mike Flory said that county taxpayers shouldn’t be charged twice, first by the sales tax and then through property taxes.
Nancy Thellman, commission chair, said the county should save money to prepare for the eventual replacement of a one-lane bridge on East 1200 Road.