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Highway department reports 25 roads closed from high water; commissioners approve operating report and fund appropriation and agree to review deed for abandoned
Summary
County highway staff told commissioners that 25 county roads were closed because of high water; commissioners signed the annual highway operations report, approved a community-crossing appropriation for Leopold Road and agreed to review and potentially deed an abandoned road segment near Snyder Curve back to private owners.
County highway staff told commissioners that 25 county roads were closed because of high water; the list is subject to daily change and staff offered it to any residents or county departments needing route information.
Steve, the highway representative, asked commissioners to sign the annual operations report for the highway department. After brief review and a motion and second, commissioners approved the report and authorized the signed copy for submission to the state LTAP/Purdue program.
On a separate item, commissioners approved an additional appropriation tied to a community-crossing project for a section of Leopold Road and accepted bids; staff said funds were in-hand and the appropriation simply needed formal allocation before work proceeds.
Citizens raised a historical-title question about a short abandoned segment of old state road near Snyder Curve (between Gatcham and the New State Garage). Lou Mansi, who said he and his wife acquired the property, presented a 1932 survey showing the state accepted land to realign the road but never returned the old alignment to the owners. Commissioners instructed highway staff to review maintenance needs, have a new survey/description prepared, and asked the county attorney/administrator (Andrew) to review the deed. The board approved a motion directing staff to prepare a deed, subject to confirmation of the county's maintenance reservation and legal review.
Commissioners and staff also discussed repeated heavy logging traffic on gravel and recently paved county roads. The board requested staff circulate an ordinance used by neighboring Spencer County that sets weight limits and fines for overweight hauling; Steve will forward the example to county legal staff for review and potential adoption. Commissioners expressed concern that heavy hauling during wet conditions is damaging local roads and imposing repair costs on county taxpayers.
Why it matters: High water and slide closures and heavy logging traffic strain county maintenance budgets and affect travel and emergency access. The Snyder Curve deed issue requires a survey and legal review before the county can return an old alignment to private ownership.
