Geary County Commission votes to reopen closed section of Derenberger Road as minimum-maintenance route

Geary County commissioners voted during their Nov. 3 meeting to reopen a previously closed portion of Fair and Banner (referred to in the hearing as Derenberger) Road as a minimum-maintenance road, restoring legal public access for nearby landowners and emergency services.

The action followed a public hearing in which county staff and the road viewers described field observations and a recent viewing by the surveyor. Road viewers recommended reopening the segment as a minimum-maintenance road; they reported the western section crosses a rock ledge that will require added fill and seasonal grading but said materials to do that are available locally. Commissioners closed the public hearing, moved and seconded the reopening motion, and recorded unanimous voice votes in favor.

County staff said the roadway was originally opened at a 40-foot width and that no new land layout by a county surveyor was anticipated to reopen it. Commissioners instructed staff to prepare a resolution and to file a certificate of viewing, identified in the meeting record as resolution number 11032025, so the action is reflected in the county road record.

The reopening is recorded as a minimum-maintenance classification, meaning routine grading and limited structural work will be used to restore passability rather than reconstruction to a full paved standard. The commission’s action does not obligate a specific construction schedule; staff and public works indicated they will coordinate any material placement and grading needed to address the rock ledge and the more rugged west section.

Next steps: staff will circulate the written resolution and the certificate of viewing for signatures and will add the reopened segment to the county road record. The commission did not set a further vote on funding beyond directing public works to move forward with minimum-maintenance repairs.