Ryno Road discussed at County Supervisor meeting
BROKEN BOW - The majority of the time at the County Supervisors meeting Tuesday, June 23, was spent in discussion of Road #857 Unruh Road in Custer Township regarding a bridge and maintenance of the road; and the maintenance and repair of Ryno Road. In the past few weeks, seven miles of Ryno Road has been ground down and put to gravel. Approximately 25 individuals who live or travel on that road daily were in attendance to find out what the future of the road would be.
Supervisor Matt Eggleston had put the item on the agenda for discussion. Not only does Eggleston live along the road, he wanted to make sure there was transparency with what was happening with the road. Many who live along the road and use the road felt they should have had some notice of what was happening. Individuals spoke of the danger of the depth of gravel and even felt the hard surface with pot holes was less dangerous than the gravel is now. Concerns of proper signage was voiced as coming up on gravel suddenly and also speed restrictions being posted.
Lana Lymber, Custer County Assessor, spoke as a homeowner living along Ryno Road, giving the Supervisors information about the 27 homes along the seven miles ground up to gravel: 15 of the homes were built or moved in after 2000; five were built between 1940-1955; and six homes were built between 19191930. Not included are the homes gravel roads connect to Ryno or the homes along the portion that is still hard surfaced.
Kirk Hansel, Custer Township board member, asked the Supervisors about the status of FEMA/ NEMA funds relating to the damage on Ryno from the March 2019 storm. As a township board member, Hansel, is familiar with the process of applying for the FEMA/NEMA funds and their payment to bring the road back to re-event condition.
Hanssel also asked the supervisors, in their decision on taking the road back to a hard surface road, to consider it being a town-to-town road and the number of professionals in the medical, fire and EMT fields who live on the road who need to respond in timely manners. He also stated the Nebraska Department of Transpiration considers a gravel road the most dangerous to drive and reminded the supervisors of the increase of the number of homes in the area since 2000 increasing the tax base.
The supervisors asked the individuals to be patient as they start to look at all the factors and how many miles of roads the county can afford to have in a hard surface.
More details on the agenda items will be in the July 2 issue since press deadline was an issue.