Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Transportation topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
County ordinance revised to recognize historic livestock trails as established roadways
Summary
Kane County commissioners recommended revising the land‑use ordinance to recognize historic livestock trails that are county roads as established roadways, clarifying use expectations for ranchers and addressing liability concerns; staff said the change would not alter routine maintenance for class B/D roads.
The Kane County Land Use Commission voted March 11 to recommend an ordinance revision that recognizes historic livestock trails used by ranchers as established county roadways.
Taylor, the county’s government affairs director, told commissioners the change is meant to protect traditional livestock movements that have occurred for generations and to prevent future federal land‑use or private development actions from curtailing those practices. “We intend to work with all the livestock producers and have all the trails, including the ones that don't follow a county road, map them out and recognize them as historic trails,” Taylor said.
Commissioners asked whether the change would increase maintenance obligations or alter liability; Taylor said class B roads (maintained) and class D roads (not actively maintained) would remain classified the same and that the ordinance is intended to codify a use the county already tolerates. He also raised an insurance concern: when livestock are moved on major roads, collisions have generated disputes about whether those events were foreseeable and whether insurers would pay. After a public hearing with no speakers, the commission moved and carried a recommendation to revise Chapter 27 to recognize historic livestock trails as established roadways.
Next steps: The recommendation will be forwarded to the county commission for formal adoption; staff said future work will map non‑road trails and develop any separate processes for those features.
