Commissioners declare portion of 3500 Avenue a 'minimum maintenance' road after public hearing

The Dickinson County Board of Commissioners adopted Resolution 110625 on a motion and second to declare a segment of 3500 Avenue between Jeep Road and Hawk Road in Cheever Township a minimum-maintenance road.

Deb Craig Blum, trustee for Cheever Township, told commissioners the road is dirt, is often impassable after heavy rain and that "the liability that we're exposing ourselves to as a township, we just need to go ahead and do the minimum maintenance and put the signs up so that everybody will know you travel at your own risk." She said the township will continue to perform limited maintenance (typically twice a year) and will post four signs at the intersections to warn drivers.

During the public hearing, residents described deep washouts and vehicles needing to be pulled out after storms. Commissioners closed the hearing before taking the resolution vote. The motion to adopt Resolution 110625 carried after the vote; the county will provide a scanned copy of the signed resolution to the township.

The county attorney was not present at the public portion; staff said the township is responsible for signage and that declaring a road minimum maintenance shifts liability expectations for travelers. The resolution instructs county staff to file and record the designation and for the township to erect warning signs at the stated intersections.

The action follows standard county procedure for minimum-maintenance declarations: a public hearing, a motion by the board, and recording of the resolution. No dissenting votes were recorded in the meeting transcript.