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Commissioners Seek Collaboration With Landowners Road Improvements Need Gravel Sources

County roads need a specific gravel to maintain integrity and withstand traffic, and landowners need a specific level of compensation to supply the gravel.

Cheyenne County commissioners Monday met with county landowners on how to bring both issues together.

“People don’t understand where we get our gravel,” said Cheyenne County Commissioner Philip Sanders. “We buy our gravel from landowners.

That is where the conflict starts, according to Sanders. Presently, the gravel pits are valuated as a site at $3,500. As high as it is, the valuation is actually a little more palatable then in prior years. Sanders said about when he took office, valuations for gravel pits jumped from $500 to $5,000. The valuation was lowered to $3,500 under the previous assessor. Sanders said even though $3,500 is better, it is still high. It was also noted Monday in the meeting with landowners that there are no rules or state mandates on gravel pits. He added that the county and landowners need to reach an agreement, for the good of the county’s roads.

“One way or another, we’re going to fix this thing,” Sanders said.

Sanders said the price structure needs adjusted for the landowners from valuation and fair compensation for gravel mined from a pit.

“I’m willing to pay more for gravel because in the long run, it will save us,” he said.

He said if there are more pits, there should be less drive time moving gravel from the available gravel pits in the county to where the gravel is needed.

“We’ve got to get the valuation fixed. We’ve got to raise the price. We need people to sell to us,” he said.

Several landowners in the meeting expressed their concerns, including the priority list for roads getting done. Sanders stressed the county and landowners need to work together.

“It is our opinion we need to get the gravel first, then do the roads,” said commissioner Randal Miller.

The commissioners also encouraged growers to be aware of the weight of their trucks and the impact on county roads.

County Assessor Mel Keller said the valuations cannot be adjusted until next year, except by protest.

In other business, the Highway Superintendent Doug Hart updated the commissioners on road work, noting the saturation of roads. He also said the State’s 1 and 6 report is changing. The county will not need to submit the entire report and can move the date closer to the budget cycle.

The board also held a brief executive session, after which they approved Thomas Payne as the new Buildings and Grounds Superintendent. He is expected to assume the position in about two weeks.

Troy Kurz met with the commissioners regarding damage to building doors at the fairgrounds. The doors were damaged in part due to storms this year. Kurz said the damage is to the tracks as well as the doors, and the door design is not manufactured anymore. Labor for replacing the door is estimated at $7,000. The commissioners encouraged Kurz to research other options for repair or replacement of the door.

The commissioners also heard an update from Weed Superintendent Cris Burke, approved two Special Designated Liquor Licenses, approved County Treasurer Shelley Bowlin’s Pledged Securites report and received an update on the Summary Plan Description for the county employees flexible spending account benefit.

 

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