(Spirit Lake)– Concern is mounting over a legislative committee’s recommendation that would have local governments inheriting some state highways.
The committee has recommended highways that start and end in a county be transferred to counties and cities. In Dickinson county, the state would transfer jurisdiction of Highways 276, 327, 86 and old Highway 71 in the Maywood area. The county and respective cities through which the roads pass would be responsible for maintaining them.
Chad Shryock of the Iowa Great Lakes Corridor of Opportunity says from an economic development perspective, they’re especially worried about Highway 86 from Milford to the Minnesota border. The county does not plow roads beyond 5:00 p.m. Shryock says many local businesses and industries and the pipeline terminals near Milford rely heavily on Highway 86 for transporting materials. Since the county doesn’t plow snow beyond 5:00 p.m., Shryock says it could seriously hamper business since Highway 86 is the lakes area’s main artery to Interstate 90. He’s urging business owners and manufacturers to write letters to the D-O-T and state lawmakers expressing their concern over the proposal.
The county is concerned over the additional money that would be needed to maintain the additional roads. The Dickinson county board of supervisors today (Tues.) signed off on a letter that will be going to local lawmakers and D-O-T officials expressing their opposition to the proposal. It mentions the economic concerns and sites a traffic study done in 1999 that shows many more people are using Highway 86 to access the interstate than highway 71 between highway nine and Jackson, Minnesota. In light of those numbers, the letter says Highway 86 should be upgraded instead of being transferred and downgraded.
The letter also states Dickinson county is willing to meet with the D-O-T and lawmakers on how to combine resources to improve the road.
