Geary County commissioners deny sale of county right-of-way, ask KDOT to finish nearby road

Geary County commissioners discussed a proposal to extend Northridge Drive and considered an offer from nearby property owners to buy county right-of-way that had been dedicated for future roadway. After public comment and technical briefing, the commission voted to deny the purchase and directed staff to pursue asking the Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) to finish a nearby connection (Goldfinch Drive) as a possible alternative.

Betsy (county staff) opened the discussion and reviewed the county’s procedures for laying out roads without a petition under state statute (referenced in the meeting as "68 1 0 2"). Leon Osborne of Caldwell Engineering displayed maps and described the original platting from the 1970s, the unbuilt east-west section, and options for extending access. Osborne said the Becker property owners had expressed interest in buying a roughly 60-foot strip behind their lots; he also described potential alternate access via an extension of Goldfinch Drive that would require acquiring right-of-way across a ravine and likely be costly.

Alan, a property owner who said he deeded the land to the county for future growth, told the commission he would not expect the county to sell the dedicated right-of-way. Teresa Beckler, a resident who identified herself at the meeting, said the county did not follow proper notice or process when work began, said she and other neighbors filed a petition on Sept. 25 to vacate the road behind their house, and asked for privacy and a correct process for any change to the right-of-way.

Commissioners and staff discussed several options raised during the meeting: negotiating a land swap with the current owner (identified in the discussion as Mr. Von Traeger), asking KDOT to extend Goldfinch Drive to provide emergency access, refusing to sell the dedicated right-of-way, or requiring a proper platting process if development moves forward. County planning and engineering noted that if the area were platted as a subdivision in the future, interior roads would be required to be paved under subdivision rules.

A motion was made to deny the offer to purchase county land dedicated by Mr. Von Traeger, and to ask staff to pursue asking KDOT to finish Goldfinch Drive (providing a paved connection that would serve emergency access) and to continue exploring options including land swaps or other right-of-way arrangements. The motion was seconded and carried on a voice vote.

The commission directed staff to follow up with KDOT and to report back on options; commissioners did not authorize a sale of the dedicated county right-of-way at this meeting.