Calabria subdivision road project withdrawn after majority objections from landowners

Residents of the Calabria subdivision told the Red Willow County Board of Commissioners that the county’s proposed Rural Road Improvement District No. 2015-1 was too costly and that lower-cost fixes or privately funded improvements had already been attempted.

At a public hearing held in January landowners including Adam Wolford, Linda Hunkins, Todd Weimer and others described out-of-pocket graveling and maintenance they had performed and urged alternatives to the county proposal. County Surveyor Gary Dicenta explained that his cost estimates included conservative allowances and that donated easements from landowners could reduce costs by roughly $66,000, but many residents said they preferred a simpler, less expensive approach.

County Attorney Paul Wood advised the board that, because more than 50 percent of affected landowners had objected, statute required rejecting the project. On reconvening the commissioners voted to dismiss Resolution No. 1265 (to form the Rural Road Improvement District) without signing, citing the objections and the attorney’s statutory interpretation (motion Downer/Dack; roll call recorded). The decision left options open for residents to pursue private improvements or a homeowners’ association approach; the board set a future meeting date earlier in the year to follow up as appropriate.

Commissioners said the county will continue to consider road maintenance priorities system-wide and work with affected parties on feasible alternatives, but they emphasized that statutory processes and the volume of objections precluded the specific district formation sought by county staff earlier in the year.