By Lucky Kidd
IOLA, Kan. — Allen County Commissioners Monday approved a zoning change and conditional use permit for a six-acre site just east of Humboldt to allow a propane retail sales facility.
The property is currently zoned agricultural, and the zoning on the site would be changed from agriculture to heavy industrial. While propane storage would be permitted in the ag zone, retail sales would not be, and this change would permit that.
A homeowner who lives just west of US 169 between Georgia and Hawaii Roads (west of the site) opposed the request based largely on what she fears would be a substantial drop in her property value.
The zoning board unanimously recommended approval Dec. 19, and the change is conditioned on the six acres of a larger tract being surveyed out and sold to the owner of B&B Propane.
Commissioners approved the signing of a letter of support on behalf of Marmaton Market in Moran, which is seeking a $152,645 grant for improvements to the community-owned store.
General Manager Marilyn Logan said this would allow them to make needed improvements, most notably a new freezer to replace one that’s in poor condition and on two recent occasions failed completely causing a loss of inventory in it. Logan added this would allow them to have a larger selection of frozen produce items on a year-round basis. Related electrical work will be included on that item.
Other projects would include an additional produce cooler, installation of an automatic door, repairs of water related damage from past roof leaks, and a new point of sale and camera/security system. Logan said they had made preliminary applications for this grant and have now been invited to submit a final application.
Road and Bridge Supervisor Jeremy Hopkins told Commissioners they are having to replace the software system used on the county’s fuel system that is utilized by several departments. The company they had been using has gone bankrupt and is no longer providing support or any reports. This system is utilized for card readers and other reporting purposes.
Hopkins said crews plan to grind up a couple of roads after the first of the year including Texas Road from Old Highway 169 into Carlyle, and a mile segment of Rhode Island Road northwest of Iola that is in bad shape. Patching work will also be done on other roads. Also being looked at is turning back to gravel the part of New Hampshire Road between 200 and 400 roads, the old concrete US 54 highway which is also in poor shape.
Public Works Director Mitch Garner in his report provided an update on airport projects and said Schwab-Eaton will be doing their final inspection on the new landfill cell, and if all goes well use of it could start as soon as KDHE final approval is given, which could be in the latter part of January.
In their final meeting of the year Commissioners also approved pay raises for 2025, a one-dollar-per-hour raise for those employees making less than $50,000 a year, and three percent for those making over $50,000.
