The Washington County Board of Supervisors met Tuesday, pictured from left, Bob Yoder, vice chair Abe Miller and chairman Richard Young. Photo by Sally Y. Hart

Obstructions cannot be placed “within any highway right-of-way” per Iowa Code Chapter 318, including fences, vehicles, trash and crops. The county has the jurisdiction to remove such items from right-of-way areas and this was an item for consideration at Tuesday’s Washington County Board of Supervisors meeting. Washington County Engineer Jacob Thorius drafted two letters – one for crops and one for other items – that could be sent to property owners. County Attorney Shawn Showers said the letters looked good. Supervisor Stan Stoops said, “I feel like it gives the landowner an honorable way out. … It really wasn’t threatening, it was factual. I didn’t find anything wrong with the letter.”

Supervisor Abe Miller, vice chair, was not on board with the letters. Miller said the letters didn’t leave room for variations. Thorius explained he went by Iowa Code and said, “All it does is take one time of somebody having something in the right of way and we say, ‘Oh, that’s not that big of a deal, we’ll let that go.’ And it takes that one accident that sets us up for liability issues.”

Supervisor Jack Seward made a motion to approve the letters as drafted, but it failed for a lack of a second. The item has been tabled for further review of potential edits by Miller and will be considered at an upcoming supervisors meeting.