Custer County Board Of Supervisors Facing Uphill Battle Against Funds And County Roads

CUSTER COUNTY— If there was a theme for the Custer County Board of Supervisors meeting on Tuesday, April 9, it would be “roads and money.” This will most likely be the theme going forward as the county struggles to figure out what to do with the number of roads continuing fall apart in all parts of the county.

Weissert Road was a main topic of discussion for the board as a group that uses that road came to the meeting to discuss the issues that they continue to have. Those who spoke felt as though the Weissert Road had been ignored in the past years and now, the problem has been intensified with the recent weather.

Chris Jacobsen, Custer County Highway Superintendent, told the group and the board that “the highway department is in survival mode.” Jacobsen noted that while he did understand the issues that road had, the department is working on making all roads passible and then will make a plan on other roads.

Jacobsen told the board that the plan going forward on most roads at this point was to fix them for short term and then look for help and guidance on which roads to fix for long term. Jacobsen estimated that there is around 420 miles of road in Custer County and that it could take years before the department was able to get through all of the roads.

He noted that with all of the roads and the extensive work that is needed done, the department needs help and they simply cannot cover all of the areas that need fixed.

Along with road issues, townships are wondering where they are going to get the money to help fix bridges, roads, culverts, etc. No plan has been set in stone, but one may be in the works to be able to loan money from the county. This possible loan system is still being worked through, as there are legal and financial hoops to jump through, but some financial relief for the townships is hopefully around the corner.

The board also approved the awarding of bids for asphalt, culverts, gravel, and drag blades to companies that the Highway Department and Highway Committee had recommended.

Also approved by the board was a special designated liquor license to Tina Trotter with Trotters Whoa N Go #9 for the Comstock Windmill Festival from June 13-15. The setup for the beer garden will remain the same as last year when Bridge Street Bar & Grill from Arcadia handled the alcohol.

The next Custer County Board of Supervisors meeting will be held on Tuesday, April 23 at 9 AM in the Supervisors room on the top floor of the courthouse.

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