Sheriff requests annual road closure for officer training; commissioners approve and greenlight enforcement grant application

Sheriff Bill Myrose told Decatur County commissioners March 17 that the sheriff's office needs a temporary annual road closure to hold mandatory emergency-vehicle-operations training for county officers and regional partners.

Myrose asked for closure of County Road 250 West between Bay Shore and Bendigo Road between May 29 and June 9 for an eight-hour minimum training period that will include county and municipal officers and volunteer fire departments. Commissioners approved the request by motion and voice vote.

Myrose also presented a grant opportunity described as a "comprehensive highway injury reduction program" through a criminal-justice institute. At one point he cited a $56,000 grant; at another point in the same discussion the number $66,000 was mentioned. He said the award would cover overtime for enforcement details (seatbelt, impaired driving, other traffic enforcement) and that there was no local cash match required beyond staff time. The commissioners voted to accept the grant application and authorize staff to proceed.

During discussion, commissioners favored hosting the training locally to save travel costs and noted the road segment is a low-traffic stretch that is suitable for vehicle operations training. The sheriff said the closure would be managed and that local volunteer departments and neighboring jurisdictions are welcome to participate.