Staff advises holding CV Road parcels; transportation staff cite salt, gravel and debris uses

Roger Fonstock presented an assessment of multiple parcels north and south of CV Road under consideration for surplus declaration. He said transportation staff and the county engineer described ongoing uses: a salt dome, gravel stockpile used this year to respond to flooding, debris management staging, storage for guardrail panels and equipment, and potential future expansion.

Michael Wei, maintenance superintendent for KDOT, explained the gravel stockpile was used over the Fourth of July weekend to avoid buying roughly $30,000 worth of material and that the stockpile could support operations for decades if managed properly. He also explained the site’s containment features for liquid salt and its role in debris management planning.

Staff said there is no county appraisal because the property is tax-exempt in county records; transportation staff told the committee that holding the property is likely fiscally responsible because losing it would force the county to acquire new land at similar cost. Committee members discussed whether the parcel should be declared surplus and whether the administration committee should forward a resolution; staff outlined the ordinance process (draft declaration, public hearing, county board consideration).

Several members concluded the committee’s current view was to retain the parcels for county use unless the full board directs otherwise or a concrete, funded proposal to change use is presented. Roger Fonstock said the next step would be to draft a resolution to declare surplus only if the committee directs him to do so.