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McCook Gazette
Letter to the Editor

County road questions

Friday, March 25, 2011

Dear Editor,

On Dec. 1, 2010, the Nebraska State Patrol wrote a citation to Ira Neel for driving left of center on a gravel county road. On March 24, 2011, the county attorney Paul wood prosecuted and county judge Anne Payne found him guilty of driving left of center on the gravel county road.

Commissioner Earl McNutt testified that county roads are not designed to handle two-lane traffic driving right of center all the time and that it was too expensive to make the roads in compliance with the judge's ruling.

Therefore, it is my understanding that the county is in direct violation of the court's ruling and forcing the taxpayers of this county and all counties of the state to drive in direct violation of the judge's ruling.

The video that was used to convict Ira clearly showed the officer driving left of center as he was following him before he turned on his lights to stop him so by all rights he should be charged with the same violation.

To me, there are two options left to take in this case either reverse the ruling and we go on our business as usual or we put every county in the state in bankruptcy trying to make roads to meet the mandate by the Red Willow County Court.

Also, to comply with the new mandate, the tax burden to the property owners would be unbearable to withstand.

I am asking as a taxpayer and landowner to hear from the people of this state and to voice your opinion to our commissioners and County Attorney Paul Wood and County Judge Anne Payne on this matter before it is too late to prevent the disaster that this ruling will create.

Don Neel,

McCook

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  • E-Gads, my Grandfather taught me wrong, and I have been driving country roads wrongly ever since.

    You bring up a very valid point, Don, to widen the unpaved roads in the County, or the State, could bankrupt the Tax structure.

    To drive, only, to the right of center, would, IMO, create a safety problem, far worse than the old, tried and true, system of driving in the center of the road, until it is necessary you hazard self by pulling to the right to miss oncoming traffic, just as the oncoming traffic is also doing.

    Way back when, when US 83 was unpaved, between McCook, and North Platte, and the gravel road was much wider than most all country roads, almost everyone drove in the center until oncoming traffic required a slow down, and a move to the right. Soft shoulders were a real hazard, if you tried to stay in the right half of the highway, all of the time.

    I hope the Judge rethinks the decision that highway laws must be followed on county roads, all of the time, as to staying to the right of center. We will probably loose a few farmers. Worth a Ponder, IMO.

    -- Posted by Navyblue on Fri, Mar 25, 2011, at 2:08 PM

  • I'm going to have to say that if that was the only reason for the stop.... There might be too much time on the officer's hands. Center driving on unpaved roads isn't just the norm, its the smart thing to do. Move over for traffic, move over at he base of a hill, but soft shoulders, thickened gravel, and the oftentimes stealthy washouts are a sure accident waiting to happen. Don't even get me started with the slurry that directs a vehicle into the ditch after a rain.

    Better things to do with our money than widen gravel roads, and for that matter, patrol county roads. This looks like the officer was gunning for a citation or just off the beaten path of the highway where in most cases, accidents will involve more than a single vehicle.

    If I happen to see a patrol car on a county road that is not on the right of center, can I turn them in I wonder? I've seen it before, right north of McCook on West 3rd road. Who enforces the enforcers? If they are traveling the county roads.... They're doing the same thing everone else does I assure you.

    -- Posted by Nick Mercy on Fri, Mar 25, 2011, at 9:59 PM

  • I've been watching for the center line on county roads and can't find it. Where the bleep is it?

    -- Posted by posture on Sun, Apr 3, 2011, at 1:16 PM
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