The Marion County Board of Supervisors approved moving forward with the Junction 92 Shop Project for the Marion County Road Department.

 It has been an ongoing project since it was first discussed in 2004. A salt shed was built at the site in 2006. Construction costs are $8.5 million. It will be merging three county shops into one and there will be a large number of benefits when done. It will close the county shops for Clay Township, the central shop in Knoxville and Pella.

Marion County Engineer Tyler Christian tells KNIA/KRLS News what will happen with the project, “We will still maintain a motor grader out of Columbia and Bussey shops and we have three motor graders operating out of Otley and Franklin Township, which services the western half of the county. These shops will remain open and we get a lot of questions about that.”

Christian outlined numerous payment options for the county. After discussion, the Marion County Board of Supervisors approved paying 59% down, for a total of $5 million and look into bonding for the rest.

Money for the down payment will be $1.5  million from LOSST, $1.5 million from ARPA, $1.0 million from the Secondary Road Fund and $1.0 million from the General Fund.

This method of payment will have no impact on property taxes.