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HARTINGTON — Cedar County Commissioners have a big decision to make after a road closure hearing here last week.
Landowners with adjoining property to 576 Avenue on the Dixon County border attended last Tuesday’s hearing to express their opinions on the road, which was first built in 1904.
Vacating the entire 1¾ miles of road would landlock nearby parcels, causing hardships for landowners, Cedar County Road Superintendent Carla Schmidt said after touring the road earlier this summer.
Instead, she recommended keeping the northern halfmile open, but turning it into a minimum-maintenance road, and then vacating the section of road between 886 Road and 884 Road, excluding the portion still in use.
“The portion of road the county wants to vacate shows no indication of vehicle use for many years,” Schmidt said. “That road is pretty rough. It is not well traveled. It’s a liability for both Cedar and Dixon counties.”
The access to that road is also very rugged, she said.
“Looking at some Google Earth aerial photos, it doesn’t even look like a road is there,” Schmidt said.
Jerry Stewart said when he bought property adjacent to the road in 2002, it appeared closed, as it looked like a canyon full of trees.
“I don’t think building a quarter-mile road back into that area is worth the taxpayers’ money,” he said. “That money could be better spent on roads that people actually need.”
Representatives of the Hoesing family, which owns property adjacent to the road, said the road is necessary because without it, their property is landlocked.
Commissioners took no action on the issue Tuesday.
Since both Cedar County and Dixon County have jurisdiction over the county line road, both counties must agree before any action can be taken.
The road superintendent also told commissioners Cedar-Knox Public Power District received a boring permit on a county road near Menominee.
Schmidt informed commissioners Great Plains Communications paid a portion of the funds owed in reimbursement for repairs required after a boring project the company conducted earlier this summer on county roads in northern Cedar County.
She then gave the county clerk a check for $6,927, noting the company still owes $13,152 on that project.
County Clerk Jessica Schmit gave commissioners an update on a recent scrap tire event held in the county. The county received a $155,000 grant to pay the cost of recycling 1,000 tons of scrap tires.
Schmit said 816 tons of tires were actually hauled out.
Commissioners also approved a special designated liquor license for Bow Valley Park Association for two events in conjunction with Diane’s Greenhouse.
Cedar County Auditor Janelle Heikes presented a report about some omitted personal property. Commissioners approved the corrections.
Cedar County Zoning Administrator Tim Gobel presented six building permits for commissioners’ review.
They are for: Don Schulte, Pct. 4, for a 15,000-bushel grain bin.
Jason Heikes, Pct. 14, for a 60,000-bushel grain bin.
Paul Goeden, for a 50-by-80 cabin.
Dennis Kleinschmit, Pct. 2, for a storage building.
Jared Kvols, Pct. 15, for a 72by-96 building to replace a shop destroyed by wind.
Mike Mauch, Pct. 3, for a 34,000-bushel grain bin. The next Cedar County Commission meeting is set for Aug. 26.
