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Council directs staff to draft process to accept private roads for town maintenance to address potholes
Summary
The council discussed eliminating the requirement that residents upgrade private roads before the town assumes maintenance and directed staff to draft an ordinance and process allowing willing property owners to transfer roads to the town so the town can repair potholes and assume liability.
Council members discussed a policy change to address deteriorating private roads and potholes where the property owner’s deed extends to the middle of the roadway.
A council member proposed removing the current requirement that residents bring a private road up to a defined standard before the town accepts maintenance. Under the direction discussed, residents who choose to transfer title or dedicate a right-of-way to the town would sign documents relieving them of future maintenance and liability and the town would assume responsibility for repairs (pothole fixes and routine maintenance) once the legal transfer is completed.
Staff cautioned that banks and mortgage holders can complicate voluntary deeds in some cases and that certain streets with homeowners’ associations may involve different processes. Town staff and legal counsel said an ordinance would be needed to formalize the process and that some transfers would still require council action and recording steps.
Council members asked staff to draft ordinance language and a procedural checklist (including property-appraiser verification and options for residents) and to consider the fiscal implications of added maintenance obligations. No vote was taken; direction was to prepare draft language for a future meeting.
