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Resident urges action on Ridge Road; county engineer says full fix would be costly and locally funded
Summary
A Marshall County resident raised safety and drainage concerns about Ridge Road and 260th at the Oct. 8 public forum; County Engineer Paul Guilenfeldt said a proper repair would require major, invasive redesign and local funds, and crews will keep the road serviceable in the short term.
Resident Mark Wyant told the Board of Supervisors during the Oct. 8 public forum that persistent maintenance problems on Ridge Road and 260th are creating safety risks and depressing property values in his area. “I just need somebody to do something about it,” Wyant said, describing gravel berms, ruts that trap water and a steep embankment that he fears will cause drivers to go into ditches.
Wyant said a recent maintainer left a raised strip of gravel that blocks drainage and that some driveways dump water onto the road rather than into ditches, exacerbating rutting. He said residents in the area have circulated a petition and that he would offer property for easement to help a fix.
Paul Guilenfeldt, Marshall County engineer, responded that the Ridge/260th stretch was never designed as a residential road and that correcting the problem would require redesigning vertical grade and be “very invasive” to nearby residents. “It’s gonna be costly, and it’s gonna take some time, and it’s gonna be very invasive to the daily life of everybody out there for a while to get it right,” Guilenfeldt said. He added that the county must fund such a redesign with local money and cannot use farm‑to‑market or federal funds for the work.
Guilenfeldt said crews will continue maintenance to keep the road serviceable while the county considers long‑term options. Board members said the engineer and sheriff would review a separate petition about engine‑brake noise in another area and report back with recommendations.
The board did not vote on roadwork at the meeting; staff were directed to review requests and provide follow‑up recommendations. Wyant’s comments and the engineer’s reply underscore a trade‑off the county faces between short‑term maintenance and funding a costly, disruptive reconstruction.
Next steps: the county engineer will evaluate specific requests, assess scope and cost, and the board may consider funding options in future budget discussions.
