Commissioners press utility and road permits review, plan bridge tech tests and ROW agreements

Brown County commissioners spent time on several interrelated infrastructure topics: utility pole placement and permits, right-of-way documentation for a bridge project, and pilot testing of alternative bridge and road surfacing technologies.

Pole placement: Commissioners raised safety and equipment-clearance concerns about a permit (25-6) that would place utility poles close to rural road returns and the county right-of-way. Staff (Speaker 4) recommended a meet-and-greet with Evergy and planners to present specific locations and curb-radius issues; commissioners agreed to pursue on-site meetings and to involve the county planner to discuss practical mitigations.

Bridge and right-of-way: Staff reported permanent right-of-way language for a bridge project is ready and temporary construction right-of-way language will be drafted; the county has allocated about $1,509 for permanent right-of-way. Commissioners asked for the temporary ROW language and documentation at the next meeting.

Road surfacing pilots: Commissioners asked staff to arrange short presentations and field visits to evaluate microsurfacing and other alternative road technologies, with the goal of testing multiple methods in three district locations in spring/early summer 2026. Speakers noted expected per-mile cost estimates used for budgeting.

Why it matters: Pole placements can affect safety and county road operations; right-of-way agreements and pilot tests for road technologies have budget and operational implications for county infrastructure planning.

What the board directed next: Staff to set meetings with Evergy, circulate ROW drafts for the bridge project and schedule a workshop presentation and possible field tests for microsurfacing and alternative bridge options.