County engineer: property owner to supply 60-inch culvert; county to install and backfill

Jackson County Engineer Jaden Shekel told supervisors May 5 that a hydraulic study and topographic survey for the culvert at 8802 267th Street indicate a 54-inch tube would be sufficient, but the landowner (Adam) prefers to install a 60-inch pipe and will purchase a roughly 70-foot pipe to allow a more gradual slope.

"From that, we determined that a 54-inch tube would actually be of sufficient size. ... he's going to stick with a 60 in just to eliminate or current one's a 60 inch," Shekel said, adding the county crew would remove the old pipe, install the new one, and backfill the site while the owner supplies the pipe.

Board members and the engineer discussed uncertainty about additional fill required by the longer pipe and possible cost-sharing or use of nearby material after planned road reclamation. No binding cost-allocation decision was made; board members said they would work out details with the landowner when the work is scheduled.

Shekel also reported a residential entrance permit for Troy Severing on Severing Ridge Road in Bellevue Township passed site-distance checks and was approved by the board.

On broader construction, Shekel updated the board that Channelworth contractor crews resumed work as river levels fell and that Z-15 bridge pile-driving is completing; the project has prompted local drivers to use adjacent gravel roads as detours, producing dust complaints. The county intends to reallocate planned dust-control applications to portions of the detour route and residences most affected, rather than treat every detour segment equally.