Q I recently saw state transportation workers digging a pond for a private citizen. Can they do that?
A Yes, although it doesn’t happen often — maybe once every three years or so, according to Earl Bosak, area engineer for the Kansas Department of Transportation.
“We need dirt all the time to put around wing walls and culverts and things like that, so we’re constantly looking for free dirt,” Bosak said. “We’ll do it every once in a while when we’re in bad need of dirt and don’t want to spend the money. It’s a win for everybody. We get the dirt and they get a larger pond.”
It can take a while to go through that much dirt. Still, KDOT always needs more. Highway maintenance superintendent Jim WIlliams said that if someone has dirt to offer KDOT, they can call the department at (785) 528-3128. But, he added, don’t count on getting a deal — if it would cost too much for KDOT to haul the dirt away, the department won’t do it.
“It isn’t somethng we can do for everyone,” Williams said. “But if it’s a cost-effective option, we’ll look at it.”
F Because You Asked is published occasionally as readers ask questions about local topics. Questions to the column must be signed, but names will not be used.
pizza (anonymous) says...
Why is this so vague? If it is truly on the up and up there should not be so many secrets. Would it not be better if the state just purchased outright the dirt it needs rather than grant special favors to certain people? Who got the pond? Why create such conflicts? Such acts by any government agency only serve to create more distrust of all government agencies. Bad, bad PR decision in my opinion.
April 28, 2007 at 7:45 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
daveedailey (anonymous) says...
I wonder if they would dig the hole for a lagoon?
May 1, 2007 at 8:30 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
daveedailey (anonymous) says...
Good comment. This county needs to keep its nose out of ot peoples business that are trying to live a decent life.No one yet has answered the question as to why she lives in Chase county and is able to tell us what and how to do things. If a new lagoon is even put in do they also get their taxes raised like they do for everything else?
May 3, 2007 at 7:33 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )