County Approves Contingent Plan for Winter Access Road Maintenance

On December 3 the Stutsman County Commission voted unanimously to approve a proposal that would allow Kidder County to perform snow removal this winter on a one and a half mile section line access road, 35th Street SE, northwest of Medina. The access road provides the only winter access to private property after County Road 39 was closed earlier this season because of high water. The commission capped the potential payment at $2,500, and made approval contingent on Kidder County and the two governing townships, Peterson and Williams, also agreeing to the arrangement.

The commission took the step after road superintendent Jesse Christianson recommended shutting the access road for the winter, citing liability concerns. Commissioners weighed those safety and liability considerations against the needs of property owners who currently rely on the alternative route. By approving a contingency that requires consent from neighboring jurisdictions, the county placed the decision within an intergovernmental framework that spreads responsibility and limits unilateral county exposure.

In a separate action the commission approved an engineering services agreement with Interstate Engineering to perform preliminary and design work on federal aid overlay projects for County Roads 44 and 69. Commission discussion included federal and local cost sharing for those projects, and the agreement moves the county into the federal aid process that precedes construction and long term maintenance commitments.

For local residents the immediate implications are practical and procedural. Property owners dependent on 35th Street SE will know that limited winter maintenance may be available if all parties agree, while the county has preserved legal caution by keeping the option contingent. The engineering agreement may translate into future pavement overlays that affect travel and freight routes in the county, subject to federal funding rules and local matches.

Residents affected by the winter access decision and those with interest in County Roads 44 and 69 are advised to monitor township and county meetings for final agreements and project timelines.