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Board approves revised entrance‑permit policy for county roads, shifts work to private contractors
Summary
Woodbury County approved a revised entrance permit and policy to stop county crews from performing driveway construction work and instead allow property owners to hire preapproved private contractors; the board also clarified culvert purchasing options and surface restrictions.
The Woodbury County Board of Supervisors approved revisions to the county entrance permit and driveway policy that change how new residential and agricultural entrances are installed and maintained.
A representative from Secondary Roads told the board the proposed policy would keep permit review under county authority but discontinue county crews’ routine installation work on private entrances. The policy, as described in staff materials, would allow private contractors to perform entrance construction provided they meet county specifications and are on a preapproved contractor list; it also clarifies material and culvert purchasing options (metal culverts may be purchased through the engineer’s office or procured by the landowner to county specifications).
Under the revisions staff clarified that paved driveways are not appropriate where they connect directly to a granular‑surface county road, and that the county will maintain specifications for acceptable culverts and installation. Staff said the draft was reviewed by zoning and the county attorney and that only minor changes were made before presenting it to the board.
Supervisor (name not specified in record) moved to receive the revised policy and permit; the motion was seconded and the board approved the policy change unanimously, 5‑0.
Nut graf: The change aims to free county maintenance crews to focus on road‑maintenance priorities while allowing private contractors — vetted by the county — to handle driveway installations, and to reduce county time spent on new entrances during each construction season.
Board members said the change responds to constrained county resources and budget pressure; staff noted the intent to keep a preapproved list of contractors to ensure installations meet county standards and to avoid repeated corrective work by county crews.
Ending: Staff will finalize the revised policy and the permit form and post or circulate the preapproved contractor list once established.
