NICK GOSNELL
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Reno County Commissioner Ron Hirst notes that anytime KDOT does a large project like the northwest bypass by Nickerson, some of the mileage that used to be highway goes back to the county and that does leave behind potential long-term issues on those miles.
"We're going to get about 10 or 12 miles back, plus another bridge over the Arkansas River," Hirst said. "Bridges are a couple million dollars today. I don't know what they will be 15 years down the line. Same way with the mileage we've got west of Nickerson, K-96 down to Arlington. Those all came back to us with responsibilities for all the bridge and all the culverts and the construction underneath of them."
The City of Hutchinson is having to deal with the bridges that KDOT used to be responsible for on the Woodie Seat Freeway and even though it's important to have projects like the bypass, it's those long-term passed along expenses that are one of the things future county commissions are going to have to be concerned about.
"It's a cost that's going to come out in years future," Hirst said. "It probably won't be my concern, it will be those who are still here at that point in time."
As long-term strategic planning is done by the county, it's important to keep in mind that starting next year, there will be three new commissioners on the board. The direction the body might take is unclear, depending on who is elected this fall.
"It takes about a year, six months to a year before you even become real comfortable being a commissioner, based upon my experience and from what I've talked to other people also," Hirst said. "You still continue your planning process, those items that come up in January will be all looked at."
There is still one commission seat that as of earlier this week did not have any applicants. The filing deadline for commission seats is June 1.