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Commissioners set April 30 public hearings after highway superintendent flags safety concerns for Spinner Road
Summary
Board schedules public hearings for two road‑vacation petitions; highway superintendent recommends denial for Spinner Road because alternate routes are in poor condition but recommends approving West Vista Drive vacation as feasible.
KEITH COUNTY, Neb. — The Keith County Board of Commissioners on April 2 set public hearings for two petitions to vacate dedicated county roads and heard the highway superintendent’s inspection findings.
Highway Superintendent Thomas Wilbur reported on site visits to the eastern portion of Aldi Subdivision and Lakeshore Subdivision (Spinner Road area) and to the West Vista subdivision. Wilbur said roads in the Spinner Road area are "poor in condition and reliability" and that vacating any of the existing alternative routes could hinder traffic flow and emergency access. Wilbur reported photographs showing a mound of dirt placed in the right‑of‑way and said the county had sent at least one violation letter to an adjacent landowner; he said it appears someone already blocked a section of right‑of‑way.
On the other petition, Wilbur said the applicant (Brian Grama) is moving a cul‑de‑sac and owns road frontage on both sides; Wilbur described that request as "a fair vacation request" and recommended approval because the change poses no hindrance to traffic or public access.
The board adopted resolutions setting public hearings for both petitions at 8:30 a.m. April 30, 2025, to be held in the county commissioner boardroom. The board directed staff to publish notice for three consecutive weeks (April 9, April 16 and April 23) and to send certified mail to the abutting property owners (two addresses were listed in the packet). Wilbur and county staff agreed to include the highway superintendent’s written findings with the mailed material so property owners would receive the inspection report along with the hearing notice.
Why it matters: Vacating a dedicated public road transfers control of the right‑of‑way and can affect emergency access, utility placement and neighboring property uses. The superintendent’s recommendation against vacating Spinner Road signals the board may face opposition at the hearing; the West Vista petition appears more likely to be approved on the basis of the inspection.
Next steps: The board will hold the public hearings on April 30 and receive testimony before making final decisions. The highway superintendent’s written report will be distributed to affected owners with the hearing notice.
