The Marion County Board is seeking a $2-million federal grant through Congressman Mike Bost to purchase and renovate the former Quad County Ready Mix plant for a new county highway garage.
Highway Superintendent Alex Kreke told the road and bridge committee Tuesday night the facility would be ideal for them, with plenty of space to store road materials. If the grant is approved, the county would have to provide 20-percent matching funds.
Kreke doesn’t know how much it would cost to renovate their existing buildings, but notes even with the renovation they still would not have enough room.
Under the plan, if a new highway garage is built, the current property and 15 acres purchased earlier at US 50 and Hoots Chapel Road for a new highway garage would be surplused.
The committee is recommending to the full county board that the highway department be allowed to purchase a used tandem truck and snow plow for $216,000. One of the current trucks that has had problems would be surplused to help pay for the new truck.
Kreke reported bids will be sought on April first to repair North Hoots Chapel Road that was damaged during construction of the large solar farm on the northwest side of Salem. The contractor for the solar farm has put up money to pay for any road improvements needed after the construction is complete.
