Weston County Commission approves cattle-guard installation and relocation on County Road 72

The Weston County Commission approved a resolution to authorize installation and relocation of a cattle guard on County Road Number 72 during the meeting, with a motion, a second and a voiced affirmative vote.

Commissioners debated whether existing surveys and an easement were properly recorded and whether the county should pursue a resolution or follow the full public-hearing procedure to formalize the road right-of-way before proceeding with construction work.

Commissioner (Speaker 5) moved to "alter the chair of the speaker on the green with cattle guard installation and relocation on County Road Number 72." The motion was seconded by Commissioner (Speaker 7). After brief discussion, the chair called for the voice vote: "All those in favor, please say aye." Ayes were recorded and no opposed votes were spoken on the record, and the motion was approved.

During discussion commissioners and staff reviewed maps and survey materials. Commissioner (Speaker 1) said there were multiple overlapping surveys and a missing easement tied to prior actions and that the county should prefer a resolution where landowner consent exists. "If we can get that, I don't have a problem with the resolution out there whatsoever," Speaker 1 said. County staff noted the need to clarify whether the missing easement was simply a recording omission or whether a landowner’s consent was required; staff agreed to prepare a basic easement/consent form for use when approaching landowners.

Commissioners discussed procedural options: pursue a resolution when landowner consent is obtained, or, if consent is not obtained, initiate the public-petition/viewer/hearing process described in statute. One participant summarized the options: "If the landowner's consent, then you guys can do a resolution. If they're not, there has to be a couple of hearing where they can come in and protest," (Speaker 8).

The commission also discussed operational details raised by local residents and road users, including whether the county tracks mile-marker ranges for repeat repairs and how to prioritize worst portions of longer roads. A staff member said county road projects often focus on the worst segments rather than entire route lengths.

Next steps documented during the meeting: staff will prepare an easement/consent form and follow up on survey documentation; if landowner consent is obtained the commission intends to adopt a resolution referencing existing survey maps and finalize the cattle-guard installation; if consent is not obtained staff will outline the statutorily required viewer and public-hearing steps for commissioners.

The motion to proceed with installation and relocation of a cattle guard on County Road Number 72 was approved by voice vote. No roll-call tally appears in the minutes.