10-15-01 Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

2= Road Advisory Minutes--October 15, 2001 1 ROAD ADVISORY COMMITTEE OCTOBER 15, 2001-1:00 PM MEETING TO ORDER Commissioner Saturn called to order a meeting of the Road Advisory Committee at 1~00 PM, Monday, October 15, 2001, in the Commission Room, Cass County Courthouse. The following members were present: John Meyer, Scott Wagner, Alan Wieland, Robyn Sorum, Jurgen Suhr, Mark Johnson, Keith Bemdt and Rich Sieg. Donna Schneider and Dennis Rust were absent. LEONARD ELEVATOR ROAD REQUEST, Approved subject to ap_pointing committee to make recommendation to County Commission Mr. Bemdt said this request was discussed at the October 1st County Commission meeting and was referred to this committee for discussion. He was contacted by Clark Halzwarth, Chaffee Lynchberg Farmers Elevator, to discuss the county possibly taking ownership and maintenance of a 1.4 mile stretch of new road being constructed to serve this expanded facility in Leonard. The road would extend from State Highway 46 to the expanded elevator to the county highway system. The company plans to build the road at their expense if the county would take ownership and maintenance of the road. Mr. Holzwarth was present and discussed the $7 million expansion project. He said there will be a 110-car shuttle train in addition to a new fertilizer plant. The new road is needed to accommodate the business. Without a new road, elevator traffic would have to go through town. Mr. Wagner is concerned with the cost to the county since there will be heavy truck traffic on this stretch of road. Mr. Berndt said if the county agrees, a partnership agreement will be drafted between the elevator and the county with each to share 50% of the maintenance costs, not to exceed $20,000 per year for the elevator. Mr. Berndt also suggested the county enter into a non-protest agreement to handle future special assessments if the road needs an overlay or reconstruction. Mr. HolzwaKh did not have any problems with the proposed agreements. Mr. Wieland asked how this differs from the City of Ayr who requested county assistance on their road leading to the elevator. Mr. Berndt said Ayr wanted the county to reconstruct and maintain the road. The county has spent several miIlion dollars in improvements on County Roads 3 and 4 that service the city. Mr. Wieland is concerned about the speed limit and the factor it wilJ play on [he road surCace. A speed limit of 40 miles per hour was suggested for this section of roadway. He does not like adding to the county road system. Mr. Bemdt said maybe the township could also be part of the partnership agreement--the county could serve as lead agency with the township owning the road and the county and elevator sharing maintenance costs. Mr. Suhr is concerned that the county will receive additional requests and asked if the county approves this, if a new policy is being established. Mr. Wieland said if the county approves the request, other reqdests will have to be considered.