By JONATHAN ZWEYGARDT
Hays Post

After nearly five years of frustration regarding road conditions in his area a local business owner is asking for Ellis County’s permission to upgrade the road himself.

Joel Younger, owner of Flatlander Dirtworks, approached the Ellis County Commission on Monday night and proposed using his equipment and employees, with the county’s help, to reconstruct 1 mile of Bison Road and a half-mile stretch of 230th avenue.

In a written statement to the commission, Younger said the roads lead to his shop south of Hays.

When it rains or snows, he said, the road is nearly impassable for his 15 employees and the approximately 11 people that use the road on a daily basis.

Younger also added he does not believe that, as a taxpayer, it is his responsibility to fix the road, but if it means getting something done he will use his own equipment and employees to make the upgrades.

“We build lease roads that are in better shape thAn that county road,” Younger said.

But Public Works Director Mike Graf said, “I don’t doubt that we can build lease roads that hold up, but they don’t get traffic that runs 55 mph either.”

Graf said that section of road is on the list to be upgraded, but there are a number of similar roads and the county does not have the resources or manpower at this time.

Counsel Bill Jeter and Graf both said the commission needs to decide whether they want to establish this type of standard going forward, where private citizens work on public roads.

Commission Chairwoman Barb Wasinger said they need more information.

“I’m well aware we of the fact that we have cut an awful lot of budget figures,” Wasinger said, but “it is nice we have someone in the county that wants to help.”

A road construction agreement, similar to the ones used to build roads to area wind farms was discussed as a way to limit the county’s liability.

The commission will discuss the issue again next week.