On the right path

The condition of an Antelope County road that connects U.S. Highway 275 and U.S. Highway 20 - a road that will see an increase in traffic if Tuesday's Summerland school bond is approved - was a discussion point during recent informational community meetings.

It's a topic that has also been discussed at the school board level and during subcommittee meetings throughout the process, according to Dale Martin, superintendent of Nebraska Unified District #1.

"Roads haven't been ignored. The focus has been on building the school," he said.

Whose financial responsibility it will be to maintain and upgrade 513 Avenue, as well as three miles of Summerland Road that sits in Antelope County, has been questioned by patrons.

During the Oct. 20 meeting in Orchard, former Antelope County Supervisor Neil Williby asked, "Is there a backup plan if the county doesn't put a dime into them?"

Martin responded, "I think we'd have to put some pressure on our county officials, maybe go a little higher up."

During a phone interview with SAM, Martin said costs for road maintenance are the county's responsibility.

"I think it would have been more controversial to put a certain amount of dollars toward roads in the bond. I don't think that would have gone far."

The road has seen plenty of use over the past 10 years when Clearwater and Orchard schools entered and ended a reorganization and continued a sports co-op.

"It's been good enough to use for the last 10 years, but we'd like to see it improved," Martin noted.

Potential improvements could include shoulder work, placement of stop signs at the intersection of Orchard and Summerland roads, additional speed limit signs and the addition of a center line and stripes along the sides of the blacktop.

"These types of things can be done as we move along," Martin added. "To do anything before is putting the cart before the horse."

In May, Antelope County Road Superintendent Casey Dittrich presented commissioners with a short-term repair plan for oiled roads. Orchard and Summerland roads were coded as "repairable using current equipment and less than 10 loads mix per mile."

Will the road require resurfacing?

According to Dittrich, "No portion of the Orchard road is in as bad of disrepair as other roads."

Via phone interview this week, Dittrich said the county bids asphalt oil one time per year.

"The cost has increased 33% over last year. If the trend continues, then it will increased again next year."

Since he assumed road superintendent duties, two sections of road have been bid for repair with hot mix.

A portion of the Cemetery Road, near Neligh, averaged $537,000 per mile, if calculated by foot, according to Dittrich.

Bids for a two-mile stretch of county road on the Neligh-Pierce cutacross totaled approximately $1.4 million.

"This is a terrible year to use for reference (due to flooding), but it's what we have," Dittrich said.

Would the county be able to conduct a study of traffic on Orchard and Summerland roads to obtain reliable data for road improvement recommendations?

Dittrich said the county does not have the tools, but "does have access to them."

Equipment would need to be picked up and returned to Lincoln.

Adding a center line and side stripes would need to be determined by commissioners.

"The topic has gone before commissioners before," Dittrich said.

Antelope County Clerk Lisa Payne said commissioners discussed equipment for striping at the Feb. 14, 2017, meeting.

The cost for one piece of equipment totaled $40,000 and would require two employees to run the machinery.

Antelope County Engineer Brian McDonald would have had to conduct a study on each mile of oil roadway that would have been striped, according to Payne, and commissioners tabled the discussion.

Supervisors addressed the legality of striping roads at a March 2017 meeting, and again, no action was taken, due to the expense and risk.

Will a school located along Summerland and Orchard roads receive priority during winter weather?

District Two Commissioner Eli Jacob, of Clearwater, told SAM paved roads have priority.

"Priority is given to bus and mail routes. That's in place. If you put a school out there, the road will get top priority," he said.

While school officials have not discussed the status of the road with state officials, Martin said it will need addressed with local, state and perhaps, national representatives, if the bond passes since "it is a major thoroughfare."

"If the bond doesn't pass, are roads still important," Martin asked.