Shelby County Board of Supervisors Meeting Recap

(Shelby Co) The Shelby County Board of Supervisors approved changes in the Road Entrance Policy.

According to the resolution, the Shelby County Engineer has created procedure to extend existing roadway entrances by amending wording in the roadway entrance application to safely and efficiently modify existing entrances or create new entrances. The full resolution with the amended wording can be read at the bottom of this story.

In other action, the Supervisors approved the appointment of Deputy Sheriff for Michael Brooks.

The Supervisors also approved an increase in the budget for the soon ending Beaver Bounty as weather has prolonged the trapping season and the allotted funds are soon to run out. The allotted funds were increased by $2,000, or 80 more animals. It was noted that this may encourage more trapping as only $150 is left for funding the program.

And, the Supervisors approved an increase in yearly pay for the for the Safety Director position to $7,000 to reward the performance and cost savings to the County. The Safety Director will still receive the $500 a year bonus for getting the insurance modification rating under 1, this is the benchmark used by the insurance company for the future years workman’s compensation insurance rates. Shelby County has been under 1 for the last four years, greatly reducing the cost.

RESOLUTION  2024-20

ROADWAY ENTRANCE APPLICATION MODIFICATION RESOLUTION

WHEREAS Shelby County sets out the procedure if a land owner wishes to install an entrance from their property to a county roadway. WHEREAS the nature of entrance application changes with time and developments in procedures and applications. WHEREAS, the Shelby County Engineer has recognized the need to amend and change the wording of the Shelby County Entrance applications. WHEREAS,  the Shelby County Engineer has duly created procedure to extend existing roadway entrances by amending wording in the roadway entrance application to safely and efficiently modify existing entrances or create new entrances.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF SHELBYCOUNTY that the Board of Supervisors hereby accepts the changes to the Shelby County Entrance application. Schaben                   seconded the motion, the motion passed with ayes by Parkhurst, Schaben and Kenkel.  No nays were cast. The application reads:

Realizing the above conditions and circumstances, and wanting to be as efficient in the use of road funds as possible, the Board of Supervisors has adopted the following policy:

1. The County Engineer is required to issue a permit for each new or widened access to the Secondary Road System.  According to Section 319.14 of the Iowa Code, “A person shall not excavate, fill, or make a physical change within the right-of-way of a public road or highway without permission from the highway having jurisdiction of the public road or highway.”
2. The County Engineer will require a no cost permit for each new or widened entrance to the Secondary Road system.  Location of entrance will be at the owner’s request if sight distance of 400’ for rock and earth roadways, 500’ for paved roadways, and other factors are approved by the Engineer.
3. Slope from the edge of entrance to the ditch flowline will be as follows:   Paved Road/Dry Fill = 8:1; Paved Road (with culvert) = 6:1; Gravel Road = 4:1
4. Approximately midway between the Right-of-Way line and the edge of the road, the elevation of the entrance shall be at least six (6) inches lowerthan that of the edge of the roadway.
5. Shelby County shall designate minimum length, diameter, and type of culvert pipe to achieve efficient and adequate width of entrance.  Culverts shall be steel riveted annular culverts, or HDPE dual walled culverts that meet Iowa DOT Specifications for entrance culverts.  No new entrance culvert shall be less than 24 inches in diameter or 30 feet in length.  Entrance culverts larger than 48” in diameter shall be steel riveted annular culverts.
6. All costs of all new/permitted installations will be borne by the owner.  The County will maintain stockpiles of new pipe for purchase.  When an entrance culvert has deteriorated, or is no longer functioning as originally designed, the Shelby County Engineer or their representative will investigate to determine if a new culvert is required.  Shelby County will provide a replacement entrance culvert at no cost but will not assume maintenance of entrances after installation.  The replacement pipe will be of length equal to the existing entrance pipe.
7. Culvert pipes shall be approved by County Engineer or their representative.  The new culvert pipe shall meet County and Iowa Department of Transportation standards for entrance pipe.
8. Shelby County maintenance personnel are allowed to maintain access to prevent water from damaging the roadway surface.
9. Unauthorized installation of entrances within the public right-of-way will be subject to removal without notice.
10. The priority of equipment used in entrance placement is cleaning out the ends of drainage structures, replacing damaged or separated culverts, washouts, and bridges.  Therefore, entrance work is a low priority scheduling item.  The owner may have the required entrance maintenance done by others, with all work subject to approval by Shelby County personnel.
11. Extension of existing entrances will only be allowed when the ends of the existing culvert are suitable for attachment as well as the original pipe being structurally sound.  Also, entrances shall meet the criteria of this policy following modifications.
12. The owner of each entrance shall be responsible for surfacing the entrance at their cost, as the county will only provide surfacing to house drives when grading, paving, or repairing.
13. All necessary and proper barricades, flares, etc., as per the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices, shall be furnished and maintained by the applicant.  Maximum safety precautions shall be maintained to protect workers, property owners, and the traveling public from accidents due to the operations of the applicant.
14. Shelby County shall be indemnified and saved harmless of any damages resulting from the applicant’s operations.
15. The installer shall submit to the Shelby County Engineer a certificate of liability and property insurance, with the minimum coverage as follows:  General Liability Insurance – Bodily Injury and Property Damage Combined $500,000 Each Occurrence / $1,000,000 Aggregate

Automobile Liability – &500,000 Combined Single Limits

Excess Liability – Each Occurrence / $1,000,000 Aggregate

Workers Comp. & Employers Liability:  Part A – Statutory.  Part B – $500,000/$500,000/$500,000

16. It is the present policy of Shelby County to maintain those driveways specified by the School Superintendents as school bus turnarounds.  This may include granular surfacing from should of the roadway to the right-of-way line.