A Ward County program to return donated road right of way to landowners has hit a roadblock in Minot’s two-mile extraterritorial zone.
The Ward County Commission decided Tuesday to set up a meeting with City of Minot representatives after receiving right-of-way reversal applications within the city’s extraterritorial zone.
The applications for the affected neighboring properties are on hold as the commission considers how to handle cases in which Minot, not the county, took the right of way through a mandated landowner donation. The applicants are County Commissioner Howard “Bucky” Anderson and his wife, Linda, and Clay Anderson.
Ward County commissioners repealed the ordinance that required a landowner to donate 75 feet of right of way on each side of the county road when platting land and agreed to return right of way taken over the many years if landowners request it. The ordinance requiring 40 feet to be taken along township roads also was repealed and returns are being made.
The commission’s action came after a lawsuit brought by the Ward County Farmers Union and Farm Bureau, which was unsuccessful in overturning the ordinance but instigated the change.
During Tuesday’s discussion of right of way in extraterritorial areas, County Commissioner John Pietsch, a plaintiff in the lawsuit, suggested the county, out of fairness, could pay landowners for formerly donated right of way if a road project occurs that uses that right of way.
“They’d be compensated for, even though it is dedicated and we don’t necessarily have the legal means to change it,” he said.
Pietsch added the two applications received don’t reflect isolated incidents. There were a number of right-of-way donations that occurred in Minot’s extra-territorial area, he said. The commission acknowledged there’s been an awareness that this issue eventually would need attention.
In other discussion about roads, the commission approved the installation of a four-way stop in Makoti at the intersection of County Road 9 and Third Street, pending receipt of a formal, written request for the signs from the city. A city representative had met with the county highway committee to encourage stop signs.
County Highway Engineer Dana Larsen explained the city’s concern is speeding in the 25-mile-per-hour zone. It has been a concern in the past as well, prompting the installation of a flashing sign alerting motorists to the speed change.
A recent weeklong study registered 2,000 vehicles through the intersection, of which 50 were traveling more than 35 mph. Larsen said the ideal solution is increased law enforcement, but Makoti has no local police and the county’s ability to increase patrol is limited. Stop signs aren’t warranted based on the data. However, they are a less expensive option than speed bumps or dips if law enforcement can’t be the solution, he said.
The commission approved receipt of a state grant that will provide for additional overtime in the Ward County Sheriff’s Department for speed enforcement across the county. Sheriff Robert Roed said the grant should allow for some additional monitoring in Makoti.
The commission also approved speed zone changes from 65 to 55 mph on County Road 14 in the area of the curves west of Minot and on County Road 17 between the pistol range and intersection with County Road 14. A reduction from 65 to 55 mph is planned on a portion of the Northeast Bypass, where Country Road 10A meets U.S. Highway 83.
Courthouse to host active-shooter training
The Ward County Courthouse will host an active shooter full-scale exercise for emergency responders on Oct. 27.
Ward County Emergency Management has scheduled the exercise for 5-9 p.m.
Jennifer Wiechmann, Ward County emergency manager, has announced she will be leaving, effective Oct. 31, to take a position in Colorado. She came to Ward County in mid-2019, having previously worked as an self-employed exercise planner in emergency management in North Dakota after graduating from Arizona State University in May 2018.
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Right-of-way roadblock | News, Sports, Jobs - Minot Daily News
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