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Residents tell Leavenworth County commissioners oversized rock and dust on gravel roads are damaging vehicles and creating safety risks
Summary
Residents from the 199th/Millwood area told commissioners that large aggregate recently placed on their gravel road is producing excessive dust, vehicle damage and motorcycle safety risks; Public Works staff said they will inspect the site and contact the quarry if necessary.
Public comment at the Leavenworth County Board of County Commissioners meeting focused on large rock and heavy dust on gravel roads near 199th Street and Millwood. Resident Dave Blackburn said he was worried about safety and vehicle wear after seeing ‘‘rocks protruding’’ and described worrying about tipping over while riding his motorcycle. Dennis Higgins, who said he has lived on 199th Street since 1991, told the board the road is ‘‘worse now than it was when I moved in’’ and that dust has soiled homes and vehicles.
Why it matters: Residents said the oversized aggregate creates a public‑safety hazard for motorcyclists and small‑vehicle drivers and imposes recurring repair costs for taxpayers. They asked whether the county contract requires screened rock and whether the quarry made an improper delivery.
Bill from the county Public Works division said the county typically buys screened rock but sometimes must accept ‘‘cap rock’’ that is weathered and dustier. He said the county would track where the disputed material came from (naming local quarries in conversation) and contact the quarry operator if repeated problems are found. Bill also explained that screened rock costs more and that the county cannot afford screened material on every gravel mile: ‘‘It really boils down to the amount of traffic ... and the quality of the rock,’’ he said.
What was decided or directed: The chair asked Bill to inspect the site and report back to the commissioners. Bill said he would determine which quarry the material came from and follow up with the operator. Residents thanked staff for taking the concern to be inspected.
Details and context: Bill reported the county maintains roughly 375–400 miles of gravel roads and an additional ~350 miles of asphalt; he said aggregate availability and cost are limiting factors and that the county has done several dust‑abatement and paving projects in recent years.
Next steps: Public Works will inspect the reported location, confirm the material source and notify the board of findings and any remedial action. No formal policy change or procurement action was taken at the meeting.
