By PHYLLIS ZORN

Staff writer

Storms caused so much damage to county roads June 18 to 19 that emergency manager Marcy Hostetler already has sent disaster declaration information to the state.

She and road and bridge superintendent Steve Hudson spoke to commissioners Monday about issuing a declaration.

Notable events, according to Hostetler, were that a tree fell and blocked Kansa Rd., water went over the roadway at Kanza and 230th Rds., Remington Rd. flooded at 230th Rd., water flowed over the road at 190th and Nighthawk Rds., water went over the road at the Mud Creek bridge, 290th and Quail Creek Rds. flooded, 290th and Nighthawk Rds. flooded, a tree fell at 300th and Diamond Rds., and Indigo Rd. had to be closed.

Hudson told commissioners reports of road damage still were coming in Monday.

“We’re still documenting all flooding problems,” Hudson said.

So far, the department has documented flood-related damage at 139 locations, Hudson said. The damage includes culvert washouts and roads impassable because of flooding.

In other business Monday, commissioners:

• Heard an update from Jeffrey Kuhlman, a lawyer representing the county in five lawsuits filed against it stemming from raids Aug. 11 at the Marion County Record and the homes of owners Eric and Joan Meyer. The half-hour long update was behind closed doors.
• Met again behind closed doors to discuss property acquisitions and personnel issues involving an emergency medical services employee.
• Heard a large array of different project updates from engineer Darin Neufeld.