With the deadline for road conversion petitions looming, County Engineer Nate Rumschlag details the process
By HOLLY GASKILL
Wells County has been converting its gravel roads since its beginning, said County Engineer Nate Rumschlag.
Although the process has changed over the years, Rumschlag’s current procedure puts property owners at the forefront.
That said, not every property owner wants this for their road. Rumschlag stated the department often encounters one property owner holding out on a specific section. Their reasons are often varied — some are wary of potentially higher traffic, while others dislike construction or are simply uninterested.
“Chip and seal is actually more expensive to maintain than gravel roads,” Rumschlag said. “But it’s a public service, so we do it — we just need people to show they actually want it.”
To begin the process, property owners submit petitions to show their interest in chip and seal conversion of their road, which involves using a loose aggregate and permanent sealant for smoother travel.
Once all petitions are received for a section, the county asks the petitioners to donate the necessary right-of-way. The ROW is the area acquired for the construction of the highway, including a portion of the property alongside the road.
The Indiana Department of Transportation recommends a 30-foot ROW for a 10-foot lane, measured from the center of the road on either side. The remaining space allows for a safe slope on the road edge, a 2-foot shoulder and a clear ditch line.
Rumschlag stated many gravel roads were put in place before the modern combustion engine, often leaving a ROW of just 16-18 ft. Regardless of conversion status, this issue has been outlined in the Wells County Vision 2035 Comprehensive Plan.
While some have asked about conversion without acquiring the ROW, Rumschlag emphasized how this creates a liability for the county. Rumschlag noted specific areas where a tree is just a few feet away from the roadway, posing a significant risk to someone traveling at higher speeds.
“It is a life risk and a liability,” Rumschlag said.
Although the road conversion petition includes information about the ROW, some property owners have rescinded their support of conversion because of this. Rumschlag noted these reasons vary but often involve objections to removing landscaping, moving a fence or losing farmland. However, Rumschlag said there are no circumstances where an increased ROW would interfere with a structure.
Despite a majority approval, one property owner can completely stall a road conversion.
In this circumstance, Rumschlag said the county may negotiate with a property owner to purchase or amend the scope of the ROW. However, the county budget does not currently include ROW purchases and would be unattainable on a broad scale.
If that offered no results, Rumschlag advised the county could pursue legal action to condemn the ROW. To do this, the county would need to make a case that a specific property owner was uncooperative, and that the ROW presents a significant life risk to the public. This process involves many steps and reviews, often bearing a financial burden to the pursuant.
“Condemnation is a slow, arduous and frustrating process for everybody involved,” Rumschlag said.
If and when all ROWs have been received, the Highway Department ranks the road section among others given its condition and crash history. In the meantime, property owners can electively pay for dust control, an annual treatment that attempts to mitigate the dust from summer travel on gravel roads.
The chip and seal process itself is generally straightforward — crews go out to the area and clear the right of way, prepare the road, and begin the physical conversion process. The Highway Department completes the process with another seal treatment the following summer.
And, while the road conversion process may face delays, it has garnered momentum, finishing several miles every summer. Previously, the county engineer identified roads and pursued paperwork from each property owner, which led to slow development and frequent stalls.
Because of the overall efficiency of this new method, several neighboring counties have implemented similar processes for their road conversions.
Petitions for road conversion are due June 1 to be considered in the upcoming season. Road conversion documents — including upcoming road conversions, petitions received, and donated ROWs — can be viewed at wellscounty.org/highway-department. Further questions about the road conversion process can be directed to the Highway Department.
holly@news-banner.com
