WASHINGTON

Following some 50 minutes of discussion, Washington County Supervisors Tuesday agreed that improvements would be made to the first quarter-mile of 135th Street to facilitate access egress to Timberline Estates III. However, they also agreed that the current Class B road would be on the county’s current five-year road plan that could eventually see a concrete surface on the road. At present, the move is to do chip and seal.

Much of the discussion involved not only improvements (chip and seal, gravel, asphalt, concrete) but also maintenance and how costs would be divided among the county, developer and homeowners.

Another issue is the increased traffic that will come with full development of the 24 lots in Phase 3 of Timberline Estates, which would have an effect on the road surface. In the discussion it was noted that 135th Street could become a future Class A road. Discussion also noted that the quarter-mile segments total three quarters of a mile. During the discussion, engineer Jacob Thorius, noting that there are two access points in the current development, said that “buyers know upfront what they are buying.”

A further concern discussed by some residents, the development’s attorney, and the board was long term maintenance, beyond 10 and 20 years, and if it became entirely a county roadway.

Thorius added, though, that compromise can be made among the parties involved. It also was noted that “work on the language” for the agreements would be in order, which would consist of developer, county and homeowners associations. The agreed upon improvements are to be done this year.

Passage of the first reading of the county wind ordinance, as it was published, with amendments that followed, going paragraph by paragraph for some sections in the nine-page ordinance, was unanimously approved. Main issues discussed dealt with accountability regarding the equipment and decommissioning as well as any possibility of civil claims. The second and third readings will come later this month.

Passage of the second reading of the ordinance authorizing the Ambulance Services to bill for and collect unpaid accounts for patients and waiver of the third reading was approved by 5-0 for the second and 4-1 for the waiver of the third.

The motion for the second reading of amendments to the Washington County Subdivision and Platting Ordinance was approved 5-0. The issues had been discussed last week, noting the need for some clarifications.

In other business, the board approved two personnel changes in the County Conservation Department: a wage change for Seth Adam, ranger/technician, from $30.42 to $30.92 hourly and for conservation naturalist Megan Jorgensen from $29.49 to $30 hourly, effective Sept. 11 and Sept. 18, respectively.