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Town Releases Ownership Of 2 Roads
Last Updated: November 12, 2011
The Town approved Resolution 2011-06 relinquishing ownership of Keena Drive and a portion of Kennedy Road north of Blackhawk Air Field.
The 4-0 vote on November 7 in favor of the road vacations means that ownership of the roadways falls to the road’s abutting landowners. Both landowners were at the meeting with concerns and questions.
Despite some advantages stated by Chairman Kris Hampton that would come with road ownership, Keena Road resident Penny Andrews ultimately said she was against the vacation.
“I think at this point with all the costs that have evolved over time, the benefit to me is to have the plow to the extent that it does,” said Andrews, referring to clearing of snow by Town plows. Her initial concern was with her neighbor Jesse Hurley who has placed trash at road’s entrance and she said when she complained to the Town she was told since the road was an easement she had no say in how the land was used.
But now that the road’s ownership was being handed over to her, Hampton said to Andrews that the road would be hers and if her neighbor wanted to use it he would have to get permission from her.
This didn’t seems to be enough to get Andrews on board. Weighing the advantages of road ownership against the responsibilities of its upkeep, she said her preference would be to leave it be the way it is. Hampton even suggested she work out a deal with Hurley where he would plow snow from the driveway in exchange for its use
“It’s a tradeoff, but I’d like it to stay the way it is. I have an agreement with my neighbor. I also think there ‘s been sort of an insult. In not having any say. It was like I was never asked to come and speak about the easement changes.
Kennedy Road landowner Glenn Sitts asked whether a turnaround recently constructed by the Town at the entryway of the section of Kennedy Road being vacated would be on his land. Hampton explained that this was surveyed to be in the road right of way and therefore was Town property.