County agrees on pilot project
The Marshall County Board of Supervisors has approved a pilot project that will allow a developer to build several houses in a new subdivision before putting down the first lift of asphalt.
A letter from the architectural engineer for Chapel Hill Subdivision, platted to have 33 lots, requested the board postpone the construction of the first layer of the subdivision road to save tearing up the existing road bed with heavy construction equipment and trucks.
The preliminary plan has been approved. Gravel and a hard surface will be left until several houses are built, before laying an inch and a half of asphalt — the first lift.
“We will find out how the road will hold up,” said Ronnie Joe Bennett, District 5 supervisor.
Zoning administrator Ken Jones recommended the board approve the measure.
Board attorney Amanda Whaley Smith recommended the motion, considered a pilot, will require the developer to apply the first lift before the first home is occupied.
“It’s putting all the heavy traffic on the road,” said District 3 supervisor Keith Taylor.
“If it tears the base up, they will have to fix it first,” said county administrator Larry Hall.
The subdivision is on Highway 311 between Holly Springs and Mount Pleasant in District 2, supervisor Eddie Dixon’s district.
“They can start three or four houses in there but they have to have pavement before the first house opens,” Jones said.
“You don’t want a resident having to go on a dirt road.” In other business, Jones said bids were in on the concessions at the Marshall County Fairgrounds.
Since the board was holding a brief meeting prior to going to the opening of the Workforce Training Center on Cayce Road, the bid was held until the next meeting.
Chancery clerk’s report Chancery clerk Chuck
Thomas asked for payment of $40,000 to Bridgers Goodman Baird & Clarke for audits of the 2019 and 2020 books. The audit report for fiscal year 2019 will be completed in August, he said.
A motion to pay, made by Taylor, was approved.
Claims for the period came to $746,543.
County administrator’s report
The construction contract for the restoration of Rosenwald School was signed. A claim for $33,750 from Mills and Mills Architects was approved. Hall said the claim is 75 percent of what’s in the contract for the design fee for the historic school on Isaac Chapel Road.
A preconstruction meeting with the contractor, architect and county administrator was set for June 28.
Caleb Crowell Roofing was awarded a bid to replace the roof on the zoning and ambulance service building.
American Heating and Air was awarded the bid to install a 7.5 ton gas pack at the Marshall County Jail for $11,800. Colston Refrigeration, Heating and Air Conditioning bid $12,000.
Hall reported a demand from AT&T to pay for cutting a cable on Carey Chapel Road. Hall said the county did locate the cable for the company. The board did not approve payment for the damage.
District 4 supervisor George Zinn III asked for correction of a dropoff on the edge of Wilkins Chapel Road.
Hall and Bennett recommended a guard rail be put up to prevent vehicles from dropping off into the deep ravine.
The board approved payment of $6,298 to Waste Connection for a roll-off container at the Marshall County landfill. The container is for collection of electronics. The board approved payment once it is established as a legitimate expense.
Smith said a request to abandon a portion of Mt. Carmel Road that connects with Dogwood has not been maintained. The board wants to abandon the unimproved section of Mt. Carmel, she said.
Bennett made a motion to abandon the portion of the road and the motion passed.
The board approved a motion to extend the ambulance service contract with CareMed for one month while the board waits for new contract proposals to arrive.