Highway report: chip sealing, culvert work and a citizen request to convert a yield to a stop sign

County staff provided the highway department report remotely on Oct. 21; highlights included chip sealing and striping of local roads, completion of a culvert replacement project, ongoing gravel hauling, delivery of a new dump truck for box installation, completion and SDDOT approval of the county five‑year bridge plan, and fall grass cutting and snow‑removal preparations.

The chair read the superintendent’s report and noted Basin Construction is working on a truck storage upgrade project at the county shop. The report said Denik completed Main Street repaving in Florence (weather permitting) and that 2025 bridge inspections have been completed and will be brought before the commission.

Commissioners also addressed a citizen request to convert a yield sign to a stop sign on 40 Eighth Street after community concerns about a fatal crash at the location. The chair said he asked Randy (highway staff) to inspect the site and provide a recommendation. “I did ask Randy in an email yesterday…to go out and take a look at that and make a recommendation with the commission on what needs to be done there,” the chair said. Commissioners discussed whether a public hearing is required for such a sign change and noted that in past instances the highway office’s determination has been adopted by the commission.

Why this matters: routine maintenance and the five‑year bridge plan affect road safety and maintenance planning; the stop‑sign request triggers a site inspection and possible traffic‑control change that would affect local traffic and safety.

No formal action was taken on the sign change; Randy is to inspect and report back with a recommendation.