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County officials warn of extended Highway 61 side‑road closures; Ferris Lane dust control request discussed
Summary
Des Moines County secondary roads staff previewed upcoming closures related to the Highway 61 project and fielded public comment seeking dust control or paving for Ferris Lane; staff explained limits of the county dust‑control program and budget constraints.
BOURNE — Des Moines County road officials told the Board of Supervisors on March 25 that two side roads east of Highway 61 — Minneapolis Road and 260th Street east of Highway 61 — are scheduled to be closed starting the week after the meeting and could remain closed for the majority of the construction season.
The county’s secondary‑roads superintendent said the closures are part of the Highway 61 project; Minneapolis Road is planned to be reopened by mid‑September under the project schedule and contractors will begin some erosion and traffic control work immediately. Letters and press releases will go out to affected residents, the superintendent said.
During public comment, a resident asked the board to reconsider Ferris Lane for dust control or paving, noting more than $7 million in property value along the road and that children walk portions of the lane to catch a school bus. County staff summarized the history: Ferris Lane has been the subject of previous paving and assessment discussions that did not secure sufficient consensus among landowners; the county’s current dust‑control program uses calcium chloride, is relatively small, and its policy generally excludes dead‑end roads from full‑length treatment.
County staff provided context for the limits on expanding dust control: roughly 450 miles of gravel road in the county, high maintenance needs and constrained revenues. Staff said the county already levies the maximum rate allowed by state law for secondary roads, which produces about $2.5 million to maintain the county road network; expanding dust control substantially would require either private cost sharing by landowners or additional funding beyond current levies.
Why it matters: Road closures tied to a state Highway 61 project will affect access for multiple residents for much of the construction season; requests to expand the dust‑control program highlight competing maintenance priorities and chronic budget limits for county road work.
Ending — County staff said they will continue to work with residents and, if landowners wish to pursue dust control or paving, the county will provide cost estimates and explain options including private contracts or assessment processes.
