Board approves IGA with Duncan to chip-seal shared road; Packer Wash crossing left for separate review

Greenlee County’s Board of Supervisors approved an intergovernmental agreement (IGA) with the town of Duncan to chip-seal a road that leads to Duncan Elementary School and to formalize maintenance responsibilities between the county and town.

County Administrator Derek Rapier told the board the county has maintained roughly half of the route for “at least 20 years” without a formal agreement and that chip sealing will reduce dusty conditions near the school and lower annual maintenance costs, which he estimated at $18,000 to $22,000 per year. Rapier said the town has a grant to pay for materials and the county has equipment and staff to perform the work.

A 700-foot segment that crosses Packer Wash was not included in the plan because it requires a stronger engineered low-water crossing or culvert, Rapier said. He told the board the town requested the county chip-seal through the wash; the county countered that it would do so only if the town’s insurance company signs off on covering the liability. Rapier said the town of Duncan would meet on the IGA on the 12th, and that the county might ratify minor negotiated changes at a later meeting.

Board members asked about alternatives such as building a concrete low-water crossing and about whether the county would retain the short 700-foot county segment; staff said the county could keep the 700-foot stretch if necessary. Rapier said chip sealing was scheduled to start Monday at the northern end of this year’s program and finish on the Carlisle/Duncan section.

A motion to accept the IGA as written, with staff authorized to bring back minor revisions for ratification if needed, passed by voice vote.