County supervisors differ over new ordinance about subdivision streets

A proposed new county ordinance dealing with streets in subdivisions within the county is getting mixed reaction from county officials.

The ordinance replaces a previous proposed ordinance which would have halted the practice of having the county accept maintenance of the streets by accepting the streets into the county road system.  Developers complained about the previous proposed ordinance.

Under the new proposal, subdivision streets would be accepted into the county road system if the streets met all the provisions of the Winneshiek County subdivision code.  Then the county would be responsible for plowing snow off the streets and fixing potholes, but any major maintenance would be paid for by the neighboring property owners or the county would vacate the road.

County Engineer Lee Bjerke told the county board Tuesday that he did not support the ordinance, predicting it would create problems that would come back to haunt the county.  County supervisor Steve Bouska agreed that no more subdivision streets should be accepted into the county road system.  County board chairman Dean Darling stated flatly, "I don't like this ordinance at all."  He called some of the conditions laid down by the ordinance "preposterous."

But supervisors Les Askelson, John Logsdon and Bill Ibanez said they supported the proposed ordinance.  Askelson said the new ordinance was better than the former proposed ordinance.  Logsdon said accepting subdivision streets into the county road system would give neighboring property owners something for their tax money.  Ibanez said, "We need to encourage growth in the county."

Supervisors did agree on scheduling a first reading of the ordinance next Monday, July 12th.  No one spoke at Tuesday's public hearing on the proposal, so county officials are hoping they'll get more of a crowd next Monday.