Lake George resident asks county to enforce statute after spring flooding makes 370 Fourth Street impassable

Rick Lovitz, a 17-year resident of Lake George, told the Hubbard County Board on Aug. (date not specified) that a stretch of road leading to 370 Fourth Street becomes flooded each spring and remains underwater for more than two months. "Since 2019, I've been requesting to get 370 Fourth Street in Lake George repaired," Lovitz said.

Lovitz said the condition began as mud puddles and has worsened so that school-bus access, emergency response and daily travel are at risk. He said he has followed guidance from the State Forester and Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, obtained local contractor estimates and gathered five landowner signatures to meet the threshold in statute. "According to Minnesota statute 163.16 on impassable roads, when a written complaint signed by 5 or more land owners ... is presented to the County Board ... the County Board, by resolution, shall fix a time and a place for hearing the complaint," Lovitz read to the board.

Why it matters: Lovitz told the board the current situation affects bus service for a 12-year-old resident and could impede ambulance or fire access when spring thaw raises water levels. He said his township has refused multiple repair requests, citing lack of money and questions about easement ownership. He estimated easement acquisition and timber rights would be "under $15,000" and graveling the road would cost about $15,000.

Board response and next steps: Commissioners said the statute Lovitz cited was new to some members and discussed options. One commissioner advised pursuing township remedies first, including raising a road-and-bridge levy at a township annual meeting; others recommended hiring an attorney to enforce a vote or to verify minutes and motions from past township meetings. A commissioner summarized the county's statutory backstop: if the township does not respond after a hearing and resolution, "the County can use funds to fix the road and send the bill to the township," as read from the statute during the discussion.

What was said in public comment: Lovitz described multiple flooded segments along the route (four spots within the 0.55-mile stretch; measured last spring at between about 40 and 70 feet across at the worst point). He said neighbors currently rely on four-wheel-drive vehicles and sometimes drive off the road onto forest land during high water, and that the township has told residents it "makes it up as we go" when asked about budgets.

Clarifying details: Lovitz said he has gathered the five required signatures and is "prepared to file a formal complaint with Hubbard County." He reported the township's annual report lists allocations for fire, general fund and road and bridge but that township officers initially refused to provide a budget until he requested it again.

Context and limits: The board members repeatedly framed the matter as primarily a township-level responsibility but acknowledged the county statute provides a procedure for county involvement if the township does not act. Commissioners warned that legal enforcement or county takeover could open complex fiscal and administrative questions for the township.

Ending: Board members advised Lovitz to continue collecting documentary evidence (minutes, budgets, the signed complaint) and consider legal counsel to ensure statutory procedures are followed. The complaint, any county hearing and subsequent actions were not scheduled during the meeting.