What started as a simple request drew extended conversation at a recent meeting of the Carroll County Board of Supervisors. County Engineer, Zac Andersen, received a call about a Level B section of Walnut Avenue southeast of Lanesboro. The caller requested gravel be added to select areas of the road to accommodate ag-related traffic. There are no residences along this stretch. Andersen and Supervisor, Dean Schettler, examined the road. Andersen then researched the policies enacted up to 2007, but wanted to have a discussion with the board before moving forward. Schettler says it is a pretty good road. Your browser doesn’t support HTML5 audio Your browser doesn’t support HTML5 audio Your browser doesn’t support HTML5 audio
According to Schettler the policy allows landowners to request gravel at their own expense. However, he doesn’t remember a time they have asked a landowner to pay for the gravel. Gene Meiners says he is not in favor of letting these roads deteriorate any further. Andersen says the property owner requested four to five loads, but he believes they could get by with just a couple in the muddier spots. This would help, but it is still a Level B road and not great for travel in certain conditions. Although Meiners is in favor of granting the request, Chair, Rich Ruggles, wanted to know if Meiners would be willing to do that for every Level B road in the county. Meiners responded, stating he believes each instance should be reviewed independently. Ruggles did not agree.
Meiners says many of these roads were moved to Level B status for snow removal purposes. Neil Bock wanted more details on the landowner’s request.
According to Andersen, that conversation did not come up; however, he believes changing the road level is not in question, just ensuring accessibility during production months. The board passed a motion to have “a couple” of loads of gravel put in the low spots on Walnut Avenue between 120th and 130th Streets. This passed on a vote of four in favor and one, Ruggles, against.