Priority road projects discussed by commissioners

Road projects never end, no matter the season.
Chase County Commissioners Jacci Brown, Duane Dinnel and Dennis Kunnemann went over their priority road projects with Highway Superintendent Toney Krajewski at a Dec. 27 meeting.
Dinnel would like to see the 11 miles of Old Highway 6 crack sealed this winter. Armor coating the road is also a priority.
Work on Ave. 347 north of Wauneta is also high on Dinnel’s list of road work.
Krajewski said the county should advertise for bids to replace the Spring Creek bridge with culverts. Krajewski also wants to see ditches reestablished and culverts added south of Spring Creek to help with Road 736A.
Brown’s road plans include working on the shoulders of the Champion highway and an overlay of the millings on Ave. 331 south of Imperial. For the millings, Krajewski suggested a leveling course and 1.5-3 inches of asphalt.
Kunnemann would like to see work done on Road 741 for at least six miles west of Highway 61 because of the heavy truck traffic it sees. Kunnemann also pointed out Ave. 314 south of Highway 6.
Krajewski suggested contracting these projects so that county road crews can focus on maintenance.
Cleaning up around the Champion bridge project was also mentioned by Krajewski.
Discussion continued from previous meetings concerning trees and bushes in the county’s right of way.
Dinnel said the Nebraska Intergovernmental Risk Management Association says it’s a gray area. Krajewski said Keith County follows state statutes that say it’s the landowner’s responsibility, but the county will knock down trees.
Brown has also had discussions with NIRMA. Brown was told if the county decides to make a policy it should be very clear.
Krajewski reminded the commissioners they would have to enforce any policy across the board. Brown feels it would be very hard to enforce.
Discussions on the matter started several meetings ago when Vincent Lee came in about trees on his property.
Because Lee’s property sits on a county line road and the trees are on the Perkins County side of the road, the commissioners would like Lee to talk to Perkins County officials about how to clear out the trees.
The county has received a $29,352 waste reduction and recycling incentive grant to collect tires. The City of Imperial has agreed to let the county use the transfer station. A date for collection has not been set.
Southwest Nebraska Juvenile Services will have a slightly new look with the turnover in elected officials in Chase County.
With the departure of County Attorney Arlan Wine, Karen Baker will also be leaving the attorney’s office. Chase County will continue to be the lead county for juvenile services, but Baker will be working out of the Dundy County Attorney’s office and Rory Roundtree, who’s final day as Deputy Attorney for Chase County is Jan. 4, will continue to be administrator.
The meeting was Dennis Kunnemann’s final one as a commissioner. Kurt Bernhardt will take over in January.
The meeting was also the final one for Chase County Clerk Debbie Clark, who has spent 20 years as elected official.
The next meeting of the commissioners will be Jan. 10.