Board of Supervisors Discuss Vacating Multiple Roads in Custer County

Board of Supervisors Discuss Vacating Multiple Roads in Custer County
Custer County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday, July 14, 2020.

BROKEN BOW—Several community members spoke before the Custer County Board of Supervisors during a public hearing on Tuesday morning regarding petitions calling to vacate roads #755 and #1146.

Jennifer and Jason Sittler said their home is near a railroad crossing in which trains sound their horns at all hours of the day and night. Jennifer Sittler said the noise is not just a nuisance but “painfully deafening.” In speaking with the railroad, Sittler said the only way to close the railroad crossing is to vacate the roads. Bob Martin said he has lived near the Kilfoil and Broken Bow townships all his life and never sees maintainers on those roads.

The Sittlers and Dave Lamb said the crossing is used frequently during irrigation season and that closing the crossing could be an inconvenience, but Lamb said he is not in opposition.

Don Cantrell expressed concerns if the roads are vacated and offered back to the township that it might affect a verbal agreement with the railroad regarding the Anderson’s crossing near Anselmo. County Attorney Steve Bowers suggested getting an agreement with the railroad first and the Sittlers agreed.

The board voted to table vacating roads #755 and #1146 until the next meeting on July 28. If the board decides to vacate the roads at that time, the townships will have four months to act.

Four additional petitions for Roads #1854, #1239, #947, and #1143 have also been filed to vacate roads in southwest Custer County. Road studies will be completed.

While in the Board of Equalization, the supervisors reviewed four Reports of Destroyed Real Property—Form 425. Chairman Barry Fox said the board should be lenient with these requests for property reassessments due to past damage caused by storms and flooding.

(Form 425 allows property owners to file for calamities that must have happened between January 1, 2020 and July 1, 2020. Click here to view the county assessor Facebook page.)

Lance Bristol with the Custer County Historical Society provided and update for the Custer County Museum which was closed for about six weeks during the height of COVID-19 shutdowns. Bristol said curator Tammy Hendrickson is the number one asset to the museum and she remained busy with projects during the shutdown. The museum is back open and has seen traffic picking up with many out-of-state visitors. Bristol is asking for a $2,500 increase from the county as part of this year’s budget request. No decisions were made.

Custer County Historical Society requesting an increase to its budget from the County Supervisors.

Emergency Manager Mark Rempe was granted board approval to apply for NACO funding for COVID-19 as necessary. The Local Emergency Operations Plan was also approved with name changes for 2019.

Sheriff Dan Osmond presented the county Distress Warrants Report to the board and Recycling Manager Kelly Flynn gave the quarterly recycling report. The board also approved Resolution #28-2020 to change the monthly payment option with Blue Cross Blue Shield for employee health insurance.

The board of supervisors held interviews for the weed superintendent position and discussed Fiscal year 2020-2021 budgets. County Clerk Connie Gracey said the county budget needs to be submitted to the state by September.

The board also approved the middle of the month claims, June fee reports, a motion to allow Barry Fox to sign the letter of engagement with the state auditor, the Housing Program Income Report, and for Fox to sign the resolutions #22-2020 and #23-2020 for the Sandhills Open Road Challenge—which were previously approved.

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