Griggs County commissioners weigh enforcement, inspections as pipeline hauling strains rural roads

Griggs County commissioners devoted the meeting Feb. 9 to managing road impacts from a large pipeline-haul program, focusing on how to measure and enforce restoration after heavy hauling.

Commissioners and county road staff said contractors are planning substantial hauling and that maps provided by the hauler appeared to show only limited stretches of County Road 3. County staff warned haulers likely will use longer routes, including State Highway 200, and recommended clarifying the haul map and the extent of required pre- and post-haul inspections. A county roads representative described a proposed inspection protocol of three measurements per mile (depth and width checks) to compare gravel thickness and overall cross section before and after hauling.

County staff and commissioners debated surveying approaches. One official said using high-precision survey control would raise costs, while others recommended simpler cross-section checks or VRS (virtual reference station) GPS that would be “close enough” to detect major changes. The board asked county staff to clarify costs, whether the pipeline project would fund measurements, and whether measurements should be broken out by township as well as by county.

Several commissioners recounted field observations of road damage: shoulders and crowns reduced, roads wider and flatter, and stockpiling of rock at field edges. They noted that some loads — notably private contractor hauls and material removal — may not be included in hauler-supplied load counts, creating a risk that damage will be underreported.

On enforcement, the board discussed adding explicit authority to haul agreements to halt hauling on days when moisture would make roads especially vulnerable. One commissioner noted other counties had closed roads temporarily under similar circumstances. County staff said the county can include such a provision in the haul agreement and impose temporary closures where necessary.

The board agreed to an on-site drive and directed staff to coordinate with townships about whether KLJ or county surveyors should perform pre/post measurements. Staff said the pipeline project was expected to cover some engineering costs but that the county should confirm payment arrangements and whether townships want separate measurement programs.

Next steps: commissioners will conduct a field inspection, request clearer haul-route mapping from the contractor, get written commitments on pre/post inspection responsibilities, and ask KLJ (or the county surveyor) to provide a cost estimate for measurements before bringing a finalized enforcement/inspection agreement back to the board.