Pottawatomie County moves forward to force clean up of property near St. George

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Pottawatomie County commissioners are submitting paperwork to the Kansas Department of Health and Environment toward cleaning up some waste build up on a property near St. George.

County Sanitarian Scott Schwinn told commissioners Monday he’s received complaints about the property and says efforts to have the property owners clean up the debris have been unsuccessful.

“Ultimately, they declined to clean it up. The county is going to be on the hook for cleaning it up and we will be reimbursed up to $10,000 for that,” he said.

Anything above that $10,000 threshold will be the county’s responsibility.

According to the illegal dump notification and information form, the roughly 2-acre property is at 4385 Blackjack Road. The property is roughly 700 feet from the nearest surface water and there are 19 occupied dwellings within a quarter-mile radius. Schwinn says it will be the state’s decision on how to proceed.

“Once we make this application, KDHE will do an investigation, they will be the ones to contact them and do the enforcement. We will not get involved until such time that they don’t clean it up,” he said.

If that happens KDHE will coordinate with Pottawatomie County on clean up efforts.

Photos from the Sanitarian’s Office show waste buildup of construction and demolition material, household trash, as well as tree and brush piles. County records list the property owners as Glen and Mary Wilson.

Pottawatomie County commissioners voted 2-1 to approve asphalt contracts for some upcoming road projects, primarily in the Green Valley area and around St. George.

Among the contracts, was a $145,000 extension of pavement along Green Valley Road, north of Elk Creek Road. Commissioner Dee McKee opposed, primarily because it’s a short-term fix to a long term issue on that route.

“Every time you do it, you close the road and increase the stress on that area. I just assume be yelled at one time for a whole big mess than what we’re doing. That’s the only bridge that goes to that school,” she said.

Another project will see Lake Elbo from Hwy 24 north to the end of the asphalt and Legion Drive between Hwy 24 and Military Trail as well as to Legion Lane to a pair of cul-de-sacs.

McKee says she’d prefer asking the state to accommodate the county’s prior obligation to see if they’d negotiate on the costs due to rising inflation.

“The traffic on those roads does not necessarily justify that. I’m not trying to be difficult, I’m just looking at inflation and the cost of asphalt and saying can we talk to KDOT and ask that question,” she said.

Ultimately, the other two commissioners approved the motion to ok the contracts. Bids will taken at the March 14 meeting in Westmoreland.