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Chapter 30 - Road Classifications
- 30.01 Purpose
- 30.02 Definitions
- 30.03 Road & Bridge Standards
- 30.04 Area Service B Roads
- 30.05 Area Service C Roads
- 30.06 Powers of the Board
- 30.07 Exemption From Liability
- 30.08 Additions
- 30.09 Reclassification
30.01 Purpose
The purpose of this chapter is to classify certain roads on the area service system in the County as “Area Service B” or “Area Service C” so as to provide for a reduced level of maintenance effort and restricted access, pursuant to Iowa Code Section 309.57. This chapter also sets road and bridge standards for County roads.
The purpose of this chapter is to classify certain roads on the area service system in the County as “Area Service B” or “Area Service C” so as to provide for a reduced level of maintenance effort and restricted access, pursuant to Iowa Code Section 309.57. This chapter also sets road and bridge standards for County roads.
30.02 Definitions
For use in this chapter, certain terms or words used herein shall be interpreted or defined as follows:
For use in this chapter, certain terms or words used herein shall be interpreted or defined as follows:
- Area Service System includes those public roads outside of municipalities not otherwise classified.
- Area Service System ‘A’ roads” shall be maintained in conformance with applicable State statutes.
- Area Service System ‘B’ roads” are area service roads with a reduced level of maintenance from farm to market or Area Service System A roads.
- Area Service System ‘C’ roads” are area service roads with a reduced level of maintenance from farm to market or Area Service System “A” or “B” roads and have a restricted access. Area Service System “C” roads shall not mean what is construed in the normal sense as a driveway or private lane to a farm building or dwelling.
30.03 Road & Bridge Standards
Washington County road and bridge standards for new or complete reconstruction projects shall be according to the current Iowa Department of Transportation Instructional Memorandum Number 3.210. Instructional Memorandum Number 3.210 sets minimum design criteria and Washington County hereby sets their own standards for the following design elements:
Washington County road and bridge standards for new or complete reconstruction projects shall be according to the current Iowa Department of Transportation Instructional Memorandum Number 3.210. Instructional Memorandum Number 3.210 sets minimum design criteria and Washington County hereby sets their own standards for the following design elements:
- Bridge Width: Minimum bridge width will be 30 feet or beyond the clear zone for structures where the roadway is carried over the structure.
- Roadway Top Width: The minimum roadway top will be 24 feet wide.
- Surfacing: Granular surfacing shall be applied at a rate of 1800 tons per mile (approximately 4 inches deep). This may be applied in 2 applications not more that 1 year apart.
- Foreslope: The typical foreslope will be 3:1 or flatter.
- Backslope: The typical backslope will be 3:1 or flatter with isolated locations no steeper than 2:1.
- Ditch Depth: The typical ditch depth will be 3 feet or more.
- Right-of-Way: The typical minimum right-of-way will be 50 feet from center-line on each side.
30.04 Area Service "B"Roads
The Board is empowered under authority of Chapter 309.57 of the Code of Iowa to classify secondary roads on the Area Service System in the County as Area Service “B” roads so as to provide for a reduced level of maintenance effort on roads so designated.
The Board is empowered under authority of Chapter 309.57 of the Code of Iowa to classify secondary roads on the Area Service System in the County as Area Service “B” roads so as to provide for a reduced level of maintenance effort on roads so designated.
- How Established - The Board shall, by resolution, declare its intention to establish an Area Service “B” road in the County after consultation with the County Engineer.
- Notice of Action - Before the Board may take action to establish an Area Service “B” road, a notice of the proposed action, including the location of the Area Service “B” road and the time and place of the meeting at which the Board proposes to take action shall be published as provided in Iowa Code Section 331.305.
- Board Action - At the meeting, the Board shall receive oral or written objections from any resident or property owner of the County. After all objections have been received and considered, the Board, at that meeting or on a date to which it is adjourned, after consultation with the County Engineer, may by resolution establish the proposed Area Service “B” road.
- Reclassification - A road with an Area Service “B” classification shall retain the classification until such time as a request for reclassification is submitted to the Board. The Board may add or delete any road from the Area Service “B” classification by following the preceding procedure.
- Maintenance Policy - Only the minimum effort, expense and attention will be provided to keep Area Service “B” roads open to traffic. For the various maintenance activities, the minimum maintenance on Area Service “B” roads will be as follows:
- Blading - Blading or dragging will not be performed on a regular basis.
- Snow and Ice Removal - Snow and ice removal will not be performed. Sanding and salting will not be performed.
- Bridges - Bridges on Area Service “B” roads may not be maintained to carry legal loads but will be posted as appropriate to advise of any load limitations.
- Weeds, Brush and Trees - Mowing or spraying weeds, cutting brush and tree removal may not be performed. Adequate sight distances may not be maintained.
- Structures - Bridges and culverts may not be maintained to carry legal loads. Upon failure or loss, the replacement structure will be appropriate for the traffic thereon.
- Road Surfacing - There will be no surfacing materials applied to Area Service “B” roads.
- Shoulders - Shoulders will not be maintained.
- Crown - A crown will not be maintained.
- Repairs - There will be no road repairs on a regular basis.
- Uniform Width - Uniform width for the traveled portion of the road will not be maintained.
- Inspections - Regular inspections will not be conducted.
- Signing - Except for load limit posting for bridges, signing shall not be continued or provided. Area Service “B” roads shall have signs conforming to the Iowa State Sign Manual installed and maintained by the County at all access points to Area Service “B” roads from other public roads, to warn the public they are entering a section of road which has a lesser level of maintenance effort than other public roads.
30.05 Area Service "C" Roads
The Board is empowered under authority of Chapter 309.57 of the Code of Iowa to classify secondary roads on the Area Service System in the County as Area Service “C” roads so as to provide for a reduced level of maintenance effort and restricted access on roads so designated.
The Board is empowered under authority of Chapter 309.57 of the Code of Iowa to classify secondary roads on the Area Service System in the County as Area Service “C” roads so as to provide for a reduced level of maintenance effort and restricted access on roads so designated.
- How Established - Roads may only be classified as Area Service “C” by resolution of the Board. The resolution shall specify the level of maintenance effort and the persons who will have access rights to the road. The resolution shall only allow access to the road to the owner, lessee, or person in lawful possession of any adjoining land or the agent or employee of the owner, lessee, or a person in lawful possession, to the agent or employee of any public utility, or to any peace officer, magistrate, or public employee whose duty it is to supervise the use or perform maintenance of the road.
- Notice of Action - Before the Board may take action to establish an Area Service “C” road, a notice of the proposed action, including the location of the Area Service “C” road and the time and place of the meeting at which the Board proposes to take action shall be published as provided in Iowa Code Section 331.305.
- Board Action - At the meeting, the Board shall receive oral or written comments from any resident or property owner of the County. After all comments have been received and considered, the Board, at that meeting or a date to which it is adjourned, may take action after consultation with the County Engineer.
- Reclassification - A road with an Area Service “C” classification shall retain the classification until such time as a petition for reclassification is submitted to the Board. The petition shall be signed by 1 or more adjoining landowners. The Board shall approve or deny the request for reclassification within 60 days of receipt of the petition.
- Access - Access to any Area Service “C” road shall be restricted by means of a gate or other barrier, as determined by the County Engineer. A gate may be purchased, installed and maintained by the adjoining landowners.
- Signs - Area Service “C” road shall have signs conforming to the Iowa Signing Manual per 761 Iowa Administrative Code (IAC) Chapter 130. The signs shall be installed and maintained by the County at all access points to the Area Service “C” roads from other public roads to warn the public that access is limited. The signs shall be considered a barrier restricting access.
- Trespass - Entering an Area Service “C” road without justification after being notified or requested to abstain from entering or to remove or vacate the road by any person lawfully allowed access shall be a trespass as defined in Section 716.7 of the Code of Iowa.
30.06 Powers of the Board
All jurisdiction and control over Area Service “B” and Area Service “C” roads shall rest with the Board, pursuant to the Iowa Code Section 309.57.
All jurisdiction and control over Area Service “B” and Area Service “C” roads shall rest with the Board, pursuant to the Iowa Code Section 309.57.
30.07 Exemption From Liability
As provided in Iowa Code Section 309.57, the County and officers, agents and employees of the County are not liable for injury to any person or for damage to any vehicle or equipment which occurs proximately as a result of the maintenance of a road which is classified as Area Service “B” or “C”, if the road has been maintained to the level of maintenance effort described in this chapter or in the establishing resolution.
As provided in Iowa Code Section 309.57, the County and officers, agents and employees of the County are not liable for injury to any person or for damage to any vehicle or equipment which occurs proximately as a result of the maintenance of a road which is classified as Area Service “B” or “C”, if the road has been maintained to the level of maintenance effort described in this chapter or in the establishing resolution.
30.08 Additions to Area Service System
It shall be the policy of the Board not to accept any additional roads or streets into the County highway system.
It shall be the policy of the Board not to accept any additional roads or streets into the County highway system.
30.09 Reclassification to Area Service "A"
The Board may consider reclassifying an Area Service “B” or “C” road to Area Service “A” classification as follows:
The Board may consider reclassifying an Area Service “B” or “C” road to Area Service “A” classification as follows:
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Petition by Property Owners
- A petition shall be signed by affected property owners which contains the following statement: The undersigned petitioners shall pay all costs of improving an established Area Service “B” or “C” road to the minimum standards as detailed in Section 30.03, including providing right-of-way for said improvement.
- Upon the favorable consideration for reclassification by the Board and the road improvements being satisfactorily made to bring the road up to Area Service “A” standards, the Board will reclassify the road.
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Petition for Economic Development in Commercial, Industrial or Agricultural Business Ventures
- Petitions for reclassification shall follow the procedures detailed in the preceding subsection.
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Petitions shall be signed by the owners of the business ventures and shall contain the following statements:
- The total assessed value of the proposed commercial, industrial or agricultural business venture shall not be less than $1,000,000.
- The business venture will create not less than 3 new permanent full-time jobs.
- The petitioners agree to donate the right-of-way needed to bring the road up to the minimum standards as detailed in Section 30.03.
- The petitioners agree to reimburse Washington County for all improvements made at County expense if the petitioners do not fulfill the preceding requirements within 2 years.
- Upon favorable consideration by the Board, the County will make such road improvement to bring the road up to Section 30.03 standards. The Board will then reclassify the road.