Iowa County discusses dust control fees

MARENGO — An increase in fees for dust control and a date for grading roads to prepare them for winter will be addressed during Friday’s meeting of the Iowa County Board of Supervisors in Marengo.

Iowa County Engineer Nick Amelon asked Supervisors their opinions of the policy changes during the Dec. 19 meeting.

“One of our main changes is that we’ve now upped the [dust control] fees, and the fees will be according to lengths,” said Amelon. The fee is currently $10, he said.

“We’ve had some issues with people coming in, paying for … them, and their neighbor, and the other neighbor and trying to get around the system.”

Also have people who like to go miles upon miles, “so we’re going to up that fee to about $100,” Amelon said.

The other change is that, if they have only one application, instead of tearing it up after 90 days, the duration will be 70 days, Amelon said. That will help people decide if they want two applications.

“It’s always trouble when they come in, only get one, and then they want it to last all year,” Amelon said. There’s no touching up.

Residents can also talk to him about seal coating, if they want that, Amelon said.

“Our guys also suggested that they would definitely like them flagged better,” said Amelon. He’s looked at policies of other counties, he said, and their permits usually include something about the flags remaining visible.

Many counties specify that after Oct. 1 or Oct. 15, the county may go through dust control without consulting the landowner, said Amelon. He wants Iowa County supervisors to choose a date after which his crews can grade roads to prepare them for winter.

“No matter how good a shape they’re in, you’re going to tear everybody’s out?” asked Supervisor Kevin Heitshusen.

“I’m not saying that they’re all going to do that, but just plan on it,” said Amelon.

“NO landowner thinks their dust control is in bad shape,” Amelon said. “Our motor grader goes through it because it is in bad shape or they need to prep it for winter. That landowner calls you guys,” Amelon said, and he’s instructed to fix it or make it right.

“We’re not trusting our graders, and I’ve got nine, 10 graders that just don’t know what to do,” said Amelon. “Do we just leave them even if they’re bad because that person’s just going to call the board and I’m going to get yelled at?” Amelon asked.

“I think we should just have it in [the policy] that you just plan on it being graded through,” Amelon said.

“I’m not sure why it matters on the length for the fee,” said Supervisor Abigail Maas, “but this is where that affects me, because, as you probably know, we do from house to house because we want that covered because we don’t want the dust.”

“It takes the motor grader a little bit more time to do some of these longer ones and to prep them.” Amelon said. “I think even our fee for the 4-800 feet, I think all these fees are reasonable.”

Jasper County charges per foot, Amelon said. Usually residents in Iowa County request about 400 feet, he said.

“There’s just too many people that were coming in, being like, hey, this is for 1600 feet for three of our neighbors and we only want to pay $10,” said Amelon.

Maas said her dust control is for 1,600 feet. “We’re just going from one house to another ‘cause we walk back and forth all the time.”

That’s a little more maintenance, said Amelon. But secondary roads isn’t in the money making business.

Maas said she isn’t going to fight Amelon’s proposed change but feels she needs to abstain if a vote is required.

Amelon asked supervisors to pick a cut-off date for grading the roads. “Even if it’s Oct. 1, it doesn’t mean [secondary roads graders] are going to be there that day,” he said.

“I think the concern was they’re still harvesting Oct. 1,” said Supervisor Jon Degen. “And that’s probably the dustiest time. But they’re still harvesting Oct. 15, and they’re still harvesting Oct. 30 too.”

Gravel roads have a lot more truck traffic hauling grain in the fall after harvest as well, said Degen, but a date has to be set, said Amelon, so the county can prep the roads for winter.

Degen said people have told him their roads were fine and didn’t need to be graded. They don’t understand that the roads need to be prepped for winter, he said.

“It’s crazy the amount of calls on dust control verses anything else that I get calls on,” said Maas. That’s why she thinks people may get a “little bit antsy” about Amelon’s proposed policy.

“If you have that calcium chloride, you can grade the road, and even with a fresh little rain after that … it seals right back up,” said Amelon. Some people still like to use their tree sap, he said, but the majority of dust control is calcium chloride.

“Our guys would prefer if that was the only one we allowed,” said Amelon.

Even in the winter, those seal back up really well, Amelon said, and it will work through the winter and will help keep that spot from freezing.

Supervisors planned to address the issue again Dec. 31 when Supervisor Chris Montross can be present. Ultimately, the decision will be made by Amelon, they said.

Supervisors may get a lot of grief about it the first year, said Amelon, but that’ll subside when people get used to it and see that it’s better for the future.

Iowa County Supervisors meet at 9 a.m. every Friday in the East Annex, 970 Court Ave. in Marengo.