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Commissioners hold public hearing and approve vacation of 40-foot right-of-way in Reindeer Lake Estates
Summary
After a public hearing and discussion about notice, the Howard County commissioners approved Ordinance 2025-BCCO-31 to vacate a dedicated 40-foot road easement in Reindeer Lake Estates, citing that the road leads to private property or limited-access right-of-way.
The Howard County Board of Commissioners moved into a public hearing Sept. 2 and approved an ordinance to vacate a 40-foot dedicated right-of-way in Reindeer Lake Estates in Clay Township.
Staff member Elaine presented a petition to vacate the easement, explaining the strip is a dedicated road that "goes to nowhere" because to the west it meets a house and to the east it meets a limited-access right-of-way on Davis Road. Elaine said she had presented the petition previously and that the public hearing had been scheduled for Aug. 18 but was held Sept. 2.
A member of the public asked whether the public hearing had been advertised in advance. Elaine said she followed Allen's guidance to post the notice on the county website and to notify the property owners (she referenced "joiners of that right away"). Another speaker said they had not seen the posting but county staff said they had received the notices in their office. Commissioner discussion confirmed the public hearing procedure before the board moved out of the hearing, then a commissioner moved and seconded approval of ordinance 2025-BCCO-31. Commissioners voted "aye" and the ordinance was approved.
The transcript records that the petitioner had provided a petition and pictured materials; it also records staff testimony that notices had been posted to the county website and that notifications were sent to affected parties. The ordinance was approved at the meeting and staff were asked to sign the ordinance paperwork.
The transcript does not include the full legal description of the vacated easement, details of any compensation (if required), or the names of all notified property owners; those details will be recorded in the ordinance and county land records.
