Commissioners address road issues
By Brenda L. Shelkey, BHG News Service
Commissioners again addressed the issue of whether or not to gravel the quarter-line road used by farmers and hunters using gravel provided by Don Striefel. At the previous commission meeting, Commissioner Ron Krebsbach requested that the decision be made when the full board was in attendance, especially since the road in question was in Commissioner Julie Hudson-Schenfisch’s area. Striefel restated his position and explained that this road is not in an organized township. He said, "This is the only east-west road in the township. It doesn’t need to be built up, it is not an all-season road. If the commission could give the Zimmerman’s some assurance that it is not going to be a gravel hauling road, it would be a good thing." Commissioners Hudson-Schenfisch and Krebsbach stated concerns about whether or not graveling the road using county equipment would be setting a precedent for maintaining county roads. Striefel responded saying, "This is a road that provides a plus for everybody in an area where there are not many roads." State’s Attorney Ladd Erickson said, "Every road is different. This isn’t a matter of setting precedence. It is like a township road as opposed to a section line road. I don’t see a concern with setting a precedent. There is a reduced cost to the county by gravelling this road."
