Chadrad.com

The Dawes County Commissioners passed their one and six year road plan, Wednesday morning, by a vote of 2-1.

Board chairman Webb Johnson expressed concern over the plan to pave 14.2 miles of Slim Butte road, with $7 million funded by sources other than tax payers. He said he thought that money could be better spent elsewhere. He also said the people in District 3 have reservations about that plan.

Commissioner Don Blausey said, its on the six-year plan, and “Are we realistically going to pave 14.2 miles of Slim Butte Road? Not in my lifetime. But if we pave three miles … if we pave one mile, people in District 3 are going to complain.”

At a prior commissioners meeting, Blausey stated that Slim Butte road had the highest volume of traffic of any road in Dawes County.

Johnson voted against the resolution to implement the road plans, Blausey and commissioner Roger Wess voted for it.

Blausey said, Wednesday, that Dawes County has received a $10,000 grant from NIRMA (Nebraska Intergovernmental Risk Agency) for cameras to be placed in the courthouse. He also said the county is applying for a $160,000 grant for new windows in the courthouse from the Nebraska Energy Office.

Seven county residents came to Wednesday’s meeting to participate in the Public Comment portion, regarding the possibility of a new West Plains Grain Elevator being built east of Chadron.

County resident Dan Wordekemper said building the facility on rail road tracks near the Fur Trade Museum would have adverse effects on the museum as a result of dirt and grain dust, traffic, diesel smoke, and noise. He also said it would have an adverse effect of adjacent property values.

Wordekemper said he and other county residents do not oppose a new grain loading facility on the railroad tracks, believe it would be better placed west of Chadron. He said it would save money because railroad track and bridges would not have to be rebuilt, and it would not have adverse effects on county roads, museums, and property.

“This has to be one of the most populated areas of rural Dawes County,” said Wordekemper. “Railroads are not community friendly.”

Blausey responded by pointing out that the proposed grain facility would likely be a mile east of the museum. He also said the commissioners are “pretty much neutral on this. The Recovery Zone bonds are the county’s only involvement. The only thing we’ve done is declare that to be a recovery zone.”

Blausey said no final decision has been made as to the location of the proposed facility, but “bringing $14.5 million into this area is important. Any time we have the opportunity to create jobs is big. There are a lot of questions that still have to be answered.”

Zoning manager Becky Paulsen said no applications for zoning or building the new grain elevator have been submitted. Blausey referred Wordekemper and the others to the local contact for West Plains, Rob Harvey.