Douglas County commissioners voted unanimously to rescind the minimum-maintenance designation on a portion of North 1 Road in Palmyra Township, restoring the road to full maintenance.

Kevin Sontag, Douglas County surveyor, opened the public hearing by reading Kansas Statute 68-5-102, which allows a board of county commissioners to declare a road a minimum-maintenance road when a road is used only occasionally or by few individuals. Sontag told the board the designated segment was declared minimum maintenance in about 1992 and later — in the late 1990s — a residence was permitted on the Douglas County side even though residences ordinarily may not take access from minimum-maintenance roads.

The homeowner sought the rescission because the parcel has no alternate public access. Franklin County already rescinded the statute on its half of the county-line road; staff said Franklin County indicated it would maintain the segment if Douglas County rescinds its half. Palmyra Township and the Lawrence–Douglas County Planning Commission both held hearings and unanimously recommended rescission. Public comment on the item was accepted and then closed.

Commissioner motioned to approve the attached resolution to rescind the minimum-maintenance designation and direct public works to amend the resolution as needed; the motion passed 5–0.

Quote: “Whenever a road has been declared a minimum maintenance road, the maintaining agency shall be exempt from liability…,” Kevin Sontag said as he explained the statute to commissioners during the hearing.

Next steps: Public works will implement the resolution and, if needed, amend the resolution per commissioner direction.