Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Transportation topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Landowner and residents voice opposition to Elk Creek Road redesign, fear of eminent domain
Summary
Multiple residents told the Meade County commission they have not received formal offers and fear imminent-domain takings related to an Elk Creek Road redesign; commissioners said counsel will follow up and noted long-term planning and traffic-growth rationale for the proposed arterial changes.
Residents of the Elk Creek Road area urged the commission to reconsider road redesign plans and said they had not been offered compensation or adequate notice of access changes. Larry Ebert, who identified himself as an Elk Creek Road resident, said the county already has access across his property and that he expects any future work could become an imminent-domain action.
"I've never received an offer officially," Ebert said, and asked how the road could be designated an "urban arterial" given the area's rural character. Commissioners responded that the arterial designation reflects anticipated growth and that planning forecasts expect future housing near the corridor; they said legal counsel would follow up with the landowner's attorney to begin a dialogue about access and proposals.
Another resident, James Chingrass, asked the county to consider lower posted speeds and additional signage on corners to reduce single-vehicle crashes rather than spending millions to straighten the road, which he said could increase head-on collisions.
Commissioners acknowledged the concerns, discussed prior studies and design alternatives, and agreed the county counsel would contact the landowner's counsel to initiate discussions. No formal change to project scope or funding was approved at the meeting.
