Thursday, November 7, 2019

Starke County Commissioners Approve Proposed Road Conversion Policy

Posted on November 7, 2019
 Author Anita Goodan, WKVI

Starke County Highway Superintendent Rik Ritzler asked the commissioners Monday night to consider approving a proposed road conversion policy with an amendment.

Under the policy, requests can be submitted to convert a gravel road to a double chip sealed road. In order for that process to move forward, the highway department will consider several elements before approval.  A road conversion scoring system would include the cost of the request, traffic volumes, a description of the road, thoroughfare plan classification, connectivity, public support, available right-of-way and the willingness of residents to dedicate right-of-way, and the road’s proximity to state roads.

One amendment Ritzler mentioned was the omission of the residents paying for the conversion.

Any requests would be submitted by June 1 for consideration of conversion in the following year, if approved.

Ritzler recommended the approval of the policy.

“It basically gives a standardized way of choosing how to do these gravel roads instead of who complains the loudest,” commented Ritzler.  “We put together the information and whoever has the best application then I will make a recommendation and you guys would approve that.  We would do three roads a year.”

The commissioners unanimously approved the road conversion policy with a unanimous vote.

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