Rolette County adopts one-year trial to maintain private driveways on county routes

Rolette County commissioners voted to adopt a one-year Road Maintenance and Improvement Initiative that lets the county perform maintenance on private driveways located on county routes when requested. The motion, brought by Commissioner Abrahamson and approved by a 4–1 vote, establishes a trial framework and directs staff to return policy specifics to the commission for review.

Road Supervisor Mark Allery introduced the concept and told the board it would require a formal policy describing scope and cost. The board earlier directed Commissioners LaRocque and Abrahamson to meet with Allery to draft a driveway maintenance policy and present it at the next meeting. The initiative is explicit that it applies only to driveways that intersect county routes, not to non-section-line private roads or easements where maintenance is a private responsibility.

The trial grew out of repeated winter and storm maintenance requests tied to wind-energy access and long private approaches. Commissioners and the road supervisor discussed options for contractor-assisted work and the county's need to limit staff diversion from routine maintenance. Commissioner Poitra voted against the trial when it was adopted on January 17, 2023; other members voted in favor.