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Resident warns of sight-line hazard after new fence; commissioners point to July 1 visibility law
Summary
A resident raised safety concerns about a newly placed fence near a rural intersection; county staff said the fence was within the existing right-of-way but noted a new state line-of-sight statute taking effect July 1 could require removal of certain obstructions placed after that date.
A local resident told commissioners a recently installed fence near his intersection is obstructing sight lines and raising safety concerns at a location where the resident said there have been fatal crashes.
Dave Soline, who gave his address as 2202 East 200 North, told the board his “biggest concern” is that a neighbor’s new fence is too close to the corner and obstructs visibility for drivers. “When I came through yesterday, they only had, like, 2 miles to go” and later he said the new fence “is 21 feet” from the right-of-way centerline, a placement he fears will block drivers’ view at the intersection.
County staff and the sheriff explained that, under current county measurements, the fence is within the recorded right-of-way and therefore legally placed. A county staff member said, “so he is within his rights to put a fence there.” But the board also discussed a state law change that creates a line-of-sight requirement at intersections: the “line-of-sight area is the right of way of each intersecting road a distance of 55 feet from the center point of the intersection,” and the statute contains a grandfathering clause that may exempt preexisting structures but could apply to new obstructions placed after July 1.
County staff read portions of the draft statute aloud and explained the practical effect: obstructions — including fences, signs and tall crops — in that 55-foot distance may be prohibited after the law takes effect. Commissioners noted the new law could require property owners to remove or adjust obstructions installed after the effective date and said staff would locate the final bill language and provide guidance to residents.
The sheriff and commissioners offered to contact the property owner to ask whether he would move the fence voluntarily, but they emphasized that the county’s present ability to force removal is limited until the statute takes full effect and until staff completes legal review.
What’s next: staff will confirm the final bill text and the effective date, and the sheriff will attempt to discuss voluntary adjustment with the property owner. The county will monitor compliance reports and take further steps consistent with the statute and legal advice.
