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Resident tells Ellis County commissioners road conditions at 200 and Eightieth Avenue are harming businesses and school access
Summary
A resident told the commission that mud, narrow width and low elevation of 200 and Eightieth Avenue are driving away customers, causing school buses to avoid the road and leaving properties churned with mud; county staff said the right of way is only 30 feet and the roadway needs reshaping.
Chad Sprowl, an Ellis County resident, told the commission on March 4 that poor conditions on 200 and Eightieth Avenue are damaging businesses, deterring customers and causing school buses to avoid the road.
"I bought that property from Gary Hazelhorst, you know, 2 years ago, and I've actually lost some customers out there because of the condition of the road," Sprowl said. "It's mud. The center of the road, of course, is lower than the ditches... when it rains, you know, it just all the water just sets right in the center. I mean, I think you guys know that means even school buses have, you know, refused to go down there." He said the road is narrow and difficult to pass with trailers and that snow drifting has left deep accumulations at times.
Brenda McGail (recorded in the meeting as the technical works director) told the commission the county’s recorded right of way on that stretch is 30 feet and that part of the plotted development took half of the right of way while the remaining half of the roadway was never formally established. "Actually, it appears we only have 30 feet of right of way there. The development plotted half of the right of way, but the remaining half of the roadway was never established," she said. McGail said the road is cut lower than the surrounding fields, lacks ditches on the stretch, and "needs additional right of way and total reshape in order to correct any deficiencies like that."
Sprowl offered to show photos to illustrate the conditions and said he sees several inches of mud tracked into his garage after travel. Commissioners noted the concern and said the issue would be taken under advisement for follow-up; McGail said there have been prior discussions and that options will be discussed further at a future agenda item.
The meeting record did not show a formal motion or timetable for repairs; no dedicated funding source or specific construction schedule was specified during the public comment and staff response.
