Orchard, Summerland road condition discussed during Tuesday meeting

Antelope County Commissioners discussed road conditions on the Orchard and Summerland roads, Tuesday, during the group's regularly scheduled meeting.

Road superintendent Aaron Boggs said portions of the road are narrow and lacking a shoulder.

"It needs a four foot shoulder on each side," Boggs said. "Shouldering will mitigate some problems."

Commissioner Charlie Henery said other roads in the county are just as important.

"This is my personal opinion. Do we have other roads besides that road that needs widened? I understand the school is there."

Henery suggested Boggs compile a cost estimate for the project.

"The road being narrow at Tilden is just as important to me," Henery said.

Boggs responded, "The primary concern as the road department is safety."

Commissioner Regina Krebs said she doesn't disagree that the roadway north of Tilden needs to be fixed and suggested several roads can be fixed simultaneously.

According to Boggs, most complaints he receives now are about Orchard road.

"We’ve mitigated some of it on Tilden road,." Boggs said.

Supervisor Dean Smith said Orchard road isn't "any different than it was 15 years ago."

"I think we have to prioritze roads in serious need," Smith said.

Commisioners may need to go to the state to address funding for roads. According to Krebs, the state of Nebraska has $2 billion in infrastructure funding coming in and the county still has ARPA funds that could be utilized.

"As a school district, we haven’t gotten any state funds. As a matter of property tax, because we lowered the levy, because of the bond, over the next 10 years, the real estate tax credit will short the district $5 million," she said.

Smith said if commissioners are prioritizing roads that need fixed, Ashfall Road needs to be given consideration.

Boggs said the eight-mile road, Orchard Road and Tilden north need to be addressed.

He will compile cost estimates on the Orchard/Summerland road project.

"Let’s get started," Commissioner Eli Jacob said.