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Resident asks Des Moines County to consider ordinance limiting semi 'Jake brakes'; sheriff, supervisors recommend outreach and possible work session
Summary
A resident urged supervisors to consider an ordinance restricting heavy-truck engine braking after repeated neighborhood disturbance; the sheriff said county staff contacted the construction firm's leadership, which agreed to a memo to drivers, and supervisors proposed a work session with the engineer, sheriff and county attorney to study ordinance and enforcement options.
During the public‑comment period, resident Kenny Mattson told the Board of Supervisors he has observed hundreds of heavy trucks using engine brakes on a steep rural descent near his home and asked the board to consider a local ordinance restricting that practice.
"I'd like to have the board of supervisors consider making an ordinance because in the last 3 or 4 years there's times when ... they're probably 30 trucks a day going down our road continuously all day," Mattson said, describing repeated early-morning events and noise that he said had been disruptive for years.
Sheriff's Office staff told the board they took a call from Mattson, contacted the construction company and its management, and asked supervisors to let leadership request driver compliance first. The sheriff's representative said company leadership agreed to send a memo telling drivers to reduce speed and avoid engine braking in the area. "We made contact with the line management and the construction management, and just expressed a concern... They agreed to put a memo out to all drivers and everybody coming and going to reduce speed," the sheriff said.
The sheriff also described enforcement options should voluntary compliance fail: "If someone did it, then we pull them over and it'd be a simple misdemeanor via citation," staff said, adding that unmarked patrols can be effective to prompt compliance.
Supervisors discussed further steps, including posting speed limits at the location, convening a work session with the county engineer, sheriff and county attorney to evaluate an ordinance or speed restriction, and inviting the resident to attend. One supervisor said coordination with a company's leadership is often the fastest mitigation, but acknowledged such agreements can lapse and that a formal ordinance or posting may be necessary if complaints persist.
No ordinance was adopted at the meeting; board members asked staff to prepare a work‑session agenda and advise on legal and enforcement implications.
