Newton resident asks county to inspect Walton Township sinkhole that he says is damaging family property

Tom Callen, a Newton resident, told the Harvey County Board of Commissioners on Aug. 5 that a sinkhole on Osage Road in Walton Township has prompted drivers to detour across his family's land and is causing property damage. He asked the commissioners to visit the site so they could see the problem in person.

Callen said the hole appeared within the last three months and that human activity since then has increased the damage to his property. "I'm trying to protect my family's property," he told the commissioners. "I would really like . . . for you guys to all three of you to go look at it." He also said an Internet company had buried cable through the hole and that he had discussed the situation with the Walton Township board and its insurance carrier.

Why it matters: The commissioners and Mr. Callen described a jurisdictional tension. Commissioners noted that, under county road organization in Kansas, many rural roads are assigned to townships and that townships levy for their maintenance, so large repairs typically fall to the township unless the county chooses to intervene.

A commissioner (unnamed in the record) said the situation likely requires engineering to determine the cause and fix for a sinkhole and explained the legal allocation of road responsibilities: "The problem is that it isn't something that the county gets involved with to the extent of, okay, we have a statutory or legal obligation that is divided among the townships within their jurisdictional limits." The commissioner also acknowledged the seriousness of the problem and that it may exceed what a township usually handles.

Callen said he had already visited the Walton Township trustees and their insurer and asked that county staff, including Road & Bridge, come to the site. Road & Bridge Director Jim (first name only in the record) said it had been a long time since he'd been out to that location and that he should revisit it. County Administrator Kevin (first name only in the record) also was copied into earlier discussions and was present during the meeting.

No formal action was taken at the meeting. Commissioners did not schedule a specific site visit date during the session but said they would revisit and consider whether county resources should assist the township.

Community context: The issue centers on a Walton Township segment of Osage Road north of Northeast 70-something (reported in public comment as "Northeast 70 Second"). The immediate impact is to adjacent private property; Callen said his family is bearing the repair expense and damage.

Next steps: Commissioners said they would follow up, and Callen said he would be willing to meet the commissioners at the site. He suggested the county involve Road & Bridge staff and the township's insurer in any follow-up inspection.