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Del Norte supervisors direct $50,000 repair options for Paul Place to improve emergency access, stop short of adopting into county system
Summary
The board agreed to include funds for a level-1 repair to Paul Place (an unmaintained private road) in next fiscal-year budget and directed staff to proceed with scoping; supervisors debated precedent and retention of private-owner maintenance responsibility.
The Del Norte County Board of Supervisors directed county staff to include funding for a level-1 repair of Paul Place in the next fiscal-year budget, aiming to restore emergency vehicle access without immediately converting the private roadway into a county-maintained street.
County staff outlined two options: a basic regrade/rock/crown and ditch work for about $30,000, or a fuller upgrade using the full $50,000 set aside by past boards that would pave the first 250 feet and potentially qualify the segment for county adoption later. Board discussion focused on precedent: some supervisors warned that funding private road repairs could open expectations for many similar requests, while others argued targeted improvements to restore emergency access are consistent with the policy that created the set-aside.
The board’s direction was to proceed with the level-1 upgrade (regrading, re-rocking and ditch correction) and include the dollars in next year’s budget. County staff emphasized that after the county completes that initial work, long-term maintenance remains the property owners’ responsibility unless they pursue formal inclusion in the county-maintained system. Several public commenters urged caution, noting the county already struggles to maintain its listed roads and warning of an administrative burden if the program expands.
Next steps: the engineer will scope the level-1 repairs and the recommended budget appropriation will be proposed in the next fiscal-year budget cycle.
