Commissioners Discuss Right Of Way Concerns
The Roosevelt County Commissioners attempted trying to tackle the large issue regarding right of way roads in the county during a meeting on Tuesday, Aug. 24.
Commissioner Gordon Oelkers explained that about 75 percent of the roads in the county don’t have proper right of ways.
“The biggest issue is when people want to borrow money on land and they don’t have a legal right of way,” Oelkers said.
The county is advertising a Request For Qualifications in order for an engineer company to address the issue.
“It keeps getting worse because the title companies and lending institutions are really looking at access for land,” Oelkers said.
Commissioner Gary Macdonald added that many counties have similar issues. He said recently Dawson and Prairie counties have established a plan to address the issue.
Commissioners said that about $100,000 will be put in the budget for the project. They are hopeful that CARES funds could also be utilized.
“It benefits the whole county,” Oelkers said.
The process will likely include public meetings and the signing of road petitions.
“We need a procedure and a way to do this,” Oelkers said of why hiring a firm to head the project is important. “It’s going to be ongoing.”
