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Commissioners table Dog Ridge right-of-way requests; adopt code framework for old county roads
Summary
After updates from landowners and counsel, commissioners tabled two requests to use old county right-of-way until March 17 and approved an ordinance establishing a framework for handling future requests to use or reopen old county right-of-way.
Representatives for private property owners and county counsel updated the Dearborn County Board of Commissioners on Feb. 17 about competing requests to use or reopen old county right-of-way, including a disputed access on Dog Ridge Road.
Attorney Jared Eubank briefed the board on settlement negotiations and said his clients would like the parties and county to meet and attempt mediation before the board acts. County counsel and staff discussed procedural timelines and notice requirements; the transcript records that a 10-day notice period would generally apply to apparent right-of-way proceedings.
To provide a predictable process for future requests, the board considered and approved an ordinance (recorded as ordinance 2026‑001 in the meeting) amending Chapter 7 of the county code to set out options — including easements, apparent-right-of-way procedures and case-by-case maintenance standards — for handling requests to access property via former county roads. Commissioners discussed preserving flexibility while considering whether to add minimum maintenance standards in a future amendment.
Because some parties requested more time to negotiate, a commissioner moved, seconded and the board voted to table two 'use of old county right-of-way' items until the March 17 meeting to allow local negotiations and necessary notices to proceed.
The board instructed staff to prepare notice documents and described the next procedural steps if the parties do not reach an agreement before the March meeting.
