County commissioners approve road closure

HARTINGTON – A section of a road near Hartington that has not been used as a road for decades has been closed permanently.

The Cedar County Board of Commissioners approved on May 9 a resolution that closes the east half-mile – about 2,640 feet – of 881st Road between 557th and 558th Avenues, located nearly eight miles west of Hartington.

Board Chairman Dave McGregor and Commissioner Dick Donner made that decision after they held a public hearing on the potential closure of that stretch of road, which has been described as nothing more than a “trail.” Commissioner Craig Bartels was absent.

County Highway Superintendent Carla Schmidt noted the portion of 881st Road the county desired to vacate has had “very little vehicular use or maintenance for a significant period of time.”

“This section of 881 Road is a liability in Cedar County in its current condition,” she said. “The road is currently classified as minimum maintenance, and alternate routes are available with minimal impact to the traveling public.”

Schmidt recommended the commissioners vacate this particular section of 881st Road, “causing no hardships or inconvenience to landowners.”

Fred Pick, who owns property along the north side of the west half-mile of 881st Road between 557th and 558th Avenues, attended the public hearing and wanted to make sure only the east half of the road would be closed.

Schmidt confirmed only the east half-mile would close.

“If we vacate it, the property goes back to the landowners,” she said.

Schmidt was referring to Bob Elliott and Ryan Marsh – landowners along the segment of 881st Road who requested the permanent closure. They were also present at the public hearing.

“When we close that, we will – with your permission – barricade it at the half-mile line and there will be a sign,” she said, noting the sign would say either “Road Closed” or “Dead End.” “It’ll be signed accordingly so people know that it’s a dead end and they can’t go blasting through there,” she said.

Schmidt explained to Elliott and Marsh what would happen after this stretch of 881st Road was vacated.

“On the end that gets vacated, it’ll be your responsibility to either gate the end of it or whatever you want to do there – put a fence there or whatever – to keep people out of there,” she said. “It will not be the county’s responsibility to do that after it’s vacated.”

Pick said understands the county’s liability issue.

“That’s kind of the reason I’m in agreement,” he said. “Otherwise, I would not be.”

Schmidt said the county either had to close the east half-mile or maintain it, with vacating it being the cheaper option.

McGregor told Elliott and Marsh once the county’s resolution for the road closure was signed, the county was no longer liable for this stretch of 881st Road.

“At that point, if somebody goes down that, it’s your liability after that,” McGregor said.