By Rich Wicks | Times Vedette
During the Sept. 23 meeting of the Guthrie County Board of Supervisors, Ron Woods addressed the supervisors to ask if he could purchase 9.1 acres of land near the former county home building, which Woods owns. The land Woods asked about is Parcel 0000917402.
Woods explained his interest in the land.
“The silting going into the pond from that 9.1 acres is considerable. What I’d like to do is buy that land and turn it into either a pasture or hay field, to eliminate some of that silting,” Woods said. “And my oldest son is considering building a house there, on the 9.1 acres overlooking the pond. So, it seems like a perfect fit,; it squares off the property.”
Supervisor Maggie Armstrong said the land is currently under lease until 2029. Woods said he would consider a lease transfer, if that were feasible.
Armstrong said the first step would be for the county to speak with the current leaseholder. Then, if appropriate, the county would like to see an offer from Woods. No formal action was taken at this time.
County Engineer Josh Sebern provided a departmental update and shared information on the upcoming P28 Road project between Panora and Stuart. He described the various options regarding road width and the related costs. The road is currently 22 feet wide and could be widened to 26 feet overall, or in certain areas, to help address safety concerns.
Sebern described a “hybrid” option of keeping the road surface at 22 feet on straight areas but widening it to 26 feet on curves, which would allow for rumble strips outside of the 22-foot striped road for additional safety.
Supervisor Steve Smith asked Sebern’s preference.
“I definitely like the widening, at least on the curves,” Sebern said. “They’re nice things to have for maintenance. They’re nice for agriculture. They’re nice for safety.”
The supervisors plan to view the road firsthand to better understand the area being discussed. That is set for Sept. 30.
As part of the consent agenda, the supervisors approved a payroll change notice for Dana Tews, for a change to the position of jail control room operator at a wage of $20 hourly.
The supervisors meet regularly on Tuesdays at 9 a.m. The public is welcome to attend in person or via remote technology. To join remotely, call 323-792-6123, then use meeting code 547029216#.