This week's decision by the Jefferson City Council to reject a bill relating to property purchases for a planned roundabout at Clark Avenue and Dunklin Street is starting conversations among city and Cole County officials about what should be done with money both governments had earmarked for the project from their half-cent capital improvement sales taxes.
Jefferson City Engineer David Bange told the Cole County Commission on Thursday they could still do some site improvement work at the intersection but could consider other areas.
Cole County Eastern District Commissioner Jeff Hoelscher said he had concerns about the need for the roundabout, just as members of the City Council had. Several council members Monday expressed concern about the project, which has a price tag of approximately $1.7 million, including about $500,000 that has already been spent.
If they were to consider something other than improvements at the Clark and Dunklin intersection, Hoelscher added, he would still like the work to be done on the east side of Jefferson City.
Presiding Commissioner Sam Bushman said he and Jefferson City 1st Ward Councilman David Kemna have discussed possible improvements along South Grant Street as the Jefferson City Parks, Recreation and Forestry Department makes improvements at Ellis-Porter Riverside Park. The biggest improvement to the park is to its amphitheater, which should bring more traffic to the area.
The street in that area is currently 31 feet wide, Bange said and the city would have to purchase some right-of-way if they decided to make it wider. County Public Works Director Eric Landwehr said they also could consider improvements to the intersection of East McCarty and Grant streets, with more vehicles anticipated to use that intersection to go to the park.
Also during Thursday's commission meeting, commissioners approved contracts for $9,150 to allow the Cole County EMS service to buy six computers and equipment for virtual meetings at stations where ambulances and crews are housed in the county. Those include the Osage Fire Protection District Station in Wardsville, Regional West Fire Protection District Station in Apache Flats, Cole County Fire Protection District stations at Brazito and County Park, and the main EMS headquarters on Southridge Drive. EMS officials said a sixth station location has yet to be determined.
This story was updated at 5:45 p.m. Jan. 9, 2021, to correct the amount commissioners approved in contracts for Cole County EMS purchases.