Resident asks Dodge County to restrict right‑of‑way mowing; committee declines action citing enforcement concerns

Jerry Seibert, a Dodge County resident, asked the Highway Committee to add language to the county's right‑of‑way policy to limit cutting or mowing to county staff, persons with permission from the highway department, or adjacent landowners only when explicitly authorized.

"I'd prefer not to have the grass in front of my property cut," Seibert said, explaining that a neighbor continues to cut 15 to 20 feet of right of way in front of his property despite repeated requests to stop and to avoid damaging perennials and a well. Seibert said he had sought other remedies previously and that a small barrier would have mitigated the mowing but that he and his spouse preferred grass rather than rock or riprap.

Staff responded that the language under discussion is an internal highway department policy rather than a county ordinance. "It's a policy approved by highway department," a highway staff member said when asked whether the existing rules were an ordinance. Committee members raised enforcement concerns and said the county would not have the resources to enforce restrictions on adjacent landowners; one committee member said, "I don't think our policy should be getting involved with neighbor disputes."

Given those concerns, the committee did not take action on Seibert's request. The chair said no action would be taken at this meeting; Seibert thanked the committee for listening.

The issue was raised during agenda item review of prohibited activities in county highway rights of way; staff had provided a handout comparing existing prohibitions with the proposed addition from Mr. Seibert.