Clearwater river road to be part of county road plan discussion

An interlocal agreement may be required if Antelope County assists the Village of Clearwater with updates to a portion of River Road, from Highway 275 to the first bridge, heading north.

The key word: If.

During Tuesday's commissioners' meeting, Brian McDonald, highway superintendent, learned that Clearwater officials asked for a quote to fix the road.

"I think you run into some obligation authority on spending county funds on city roads," McDonald said. "I have mixed emotions about dealing with other entities when we're doing the work for them."

Chairman Charlie Henery asked if an interlocal agreement would cover county-supplied labor and materials paid by the village.

McDonald suggested bringing county attorney Joe Smith into the loop.

"If you fix it and they're unhappy with it ... it puts you in a precarious place," McDonald said.

A concern, according to McDonald, is how the county fills a contractor role.

Commissioner Casey Dittrich said when village officials addressed the road concerns with the county during the Aug. 13 meeting, "a plan of attack" was discussed.

Kluthe said measurements have been taken; however, how to deal with three manholes along the stretch will need to be dealt with.

Henery pondered if a contractor needs to pour concrete around the manholes.

"You're not a contractor," McDonald said.

Dittrich said one concern is the road needs to be raised, and it's a question the commissioner wants to address.

"If there's no concern with that, we can make it a better road," he said. "We've got to get it nailed down."

Henery said he believes the county attorney will be against the county assisting with the project.

McDonald concurred.

"If it's wrong, what do we do? We don't have a bond, we don't have insurance," he said.

Kluthe noted that village officials said local residents have offered to assist. McDonald expressed concerns with using volunteer help since the individual would not have a bond.

"You just brought liability for someone who doesn't know what they're doing," he said.

According to Dittrich, village officials are trying hard to find a way to make the process work.

"We need to set the record straight," Dittrich said. "Every time they come we're giving them a little bit more of a pacifier.

Henery suggested the village's engineer conduct a road study and "put a price sticker on it."

"If he wants to raise the road, he can raise the road and it won't be county involved because it isn't a county road," Henery said.

Commissioners asked Kluthe and McDonald to travel the road on Tuesday and "take plenty of notes."

Dittrich suggested he and Kluthe meet with Smith prior to the Sept. 10 commissioners' meeting to discuss options.

In other business, commissioners:

• Learned four delinquent tax parcels will be given to the county attorney to begin the foreclosure process. Antelope County Treasurer Deb Branstiter said the four sales will expire in March 2025 and asked for a motion to give the county attorney the nod to sending letters to property owners.

• Approved a liquor license renewal for the Antelope Country Club. Payne said no complaints were received in opposition to the renewal.

• Discussed culvert placement on the Sunken Gardens project. A hearing about the project will take place during the one- and six-year road plan hearing. Payne will notify property owners.