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Lake Meadows resident urges Hutchinson County to review law allowing help for private roads
Summary
Kelly Riddle told the commissioners that a state change she referred to as HB 2560 (said to take effect Sept. 1) allows counties to assist private roads and asked the court to seek legal advice and provide feedback on possible county responses to deteriorating private roads and public-safety access issues.
Kelly Riddle, a Lake Meadows resident who signed up to speak during the public-comment period, asked Hutchinson County commissioners to consider using a recently passed state law to help repair private roads where residents pay taxes but receive few county services.
“As you all know, we’ve been trying to get the roads out of Lake Meadows River fixed, and all we get is it’s illegal,” Riddle said, urging the court to review a law she identified in the record as HB 2560 and to advise residents on options. She said the measure, which she said passed in June and took effect Sept. 1, removes the legal barrier to county assistance on private roads and that residents have saved money through road fees yet still lack law-enforcement presence, animal control and road maintenance.
County staff told Riddle they would seek legal guidance. The presiding official (Speaker 4) said they would “turn this over to the county attorney and get some legal advice” on how the bill reads and on what options the county may have.
Why it matters: Private roads that provide sole access to homes can affect response times for law enforcement and emergency services and can strain relationships between residents and county government. Riddle also said there are safety concerns at specific properties in Lake Meadows where squatters and tents have appeared, and she asked for a chance to be placed on a future agenda so the court could give more detailed feedback.
What happens next: The court undertook to have the county attorney review the statute and report back; staff and commissioners indicated they would follow up with Riddle to discuss options and possible agenda placement.
Reporting note: Riddle provided copies of the statute to commissioners during her comment; the transcript records her reference to HB 2560 but does not include a formal bill text in the packet. The county’s formal legal position will depend on the attorney’s interpretation of the statute and any implementing rules.
