Highway superintendent reports 205 miles bladed; commissioners briefed on volunteer 'Ready to Serve' plan

At the Oct. 28 Dawes County commissioners meeting, Highway Superintendent Wade Yada told the board that county crews have bladed 205 miles of roads since his last report and that workers are knocking down windrows across all three maintenance districts.

Yada said District 1 crews are hauling rock for District 3, District 2 crews are continuing to blade and knock down windrows, and District 3 is hauling material to Lemmon Road and then to Bethel Road. He reported a crusher rental has been returned and that a crew member identified in the minutes as "Pete" is installing culverts on Table Road. Yada said crews will begin five-day workweeks on Nov. 3, 2025.

The board also heard an informal briefing on a tentative volunteer initiative called Ready to Serve Dawes County. Commissioner Jake Stewart described the group’s meeting at the Veteran's Service Office and said the minutes identify Martha Quay as the person who will work an additional five hours per week to oversee a volunteer email account. The minutes state that Quay’s additional hours would be paid from funds made available by Dawes County and the City of Chadron; the entry does not record a formal board motion approving a new position or an appropriation.

No public comment was recorded on the volunteer program during the session. The highway report and volunteer briefing were part of routine departmental business and did not include a recorded public hearing or separate vote.