Adams County commissioners approve vacation of bridge No. 163 and portion of West 1,100 South, 3–0

The Adams County Commissioners voted unanimously to vacate a portion of county right-of-way that includes bridge No. 163 and the adjoining stretch of West 1,100 South after a public hearing and discussion of access and adjacent parcels.

During the hearing, Steve Austin, government affairs for Red Gold’s Elwood office, said Red Gold had no objection to the vacation but asked whether two small county-owned parcels — a rectangular tract near State Road 27 and a roughly 10-by-10–15-by-15-foot square on the northeast corner of Red Gold’s tomato lot with utility poles — were included in the vacation. County staff and a commissioner said those outlying parcels are likely county-owned but are not part of the current vacation proceeding and will require a separate disposition discussion.

Commissioners and staff discussed potential landlocking, maintenance access to a 75-foot drainage right-of-way, the construction of a turnaround or cul-de-sac at the east end of 1,100 South, and the occasional need to remove beaver dams. Commissioners said the most practical path is to negotiate recorded access easements with Red Gold so the county or adjacent landowners can perform infrequent maintenance once the right-of-way is vacated.

A commissioner moved to approve the vacation in the order presented; the motion was seconded and passed on a 3–0 vote. Chair Steve said the county will present an ordinance formalizing the vacation at the next meeting.

County counsel indicated he will prepare quit-claim deeds and ancillary agreements to transfer small parcels to Red Gold in exchange for documented rights of access and a recorded right-of-way or easement to protect future maintenance. Counsel said he would correspond with Red Gold to obtain signatures and prepare the documents for the commissioners’ approval.

The board’s action transfers responsibility for maintenance and liability of the vacated segments to the adjacent private owners according to the standard property-law rules for vacation (fee simple to adjoining owners) unless otherwise arranged through recorded agreements. Commissioners emphasized that preserving access to drainage and avoiding unintended landlocking will be handled through the quit-claim and easement documents the county counsel will prepare.

The ordinance to formalize the vacation is scheduled to be presented to the board next week.