Commissioners vacate three roads

COLFAX – Whitman County Commissioners voted to vacate three roads during their meeting Monday, Oct. 16.

They were among several roads considered for vacation, including Vernon and Cozier Road, Poe Road No. 8350, Old Barn Road No. 5230, Vaughn Road and Vaughn Bridge No. 5230-00.05, and S.M. McKenzie Road.

Public Works Director Mark Storey explained that the first roads commissioners discussed, Vernon and Cozier Road, largely no longer exists. “It accesses a home in that location,” Storey said, noting that a family supported vacating the road due to it being a driveway to their house. “It should of been cleaned up a long time ago,” he said.

The Commissioners unanimously voted to vacate Vernon and Cozier Road.

Two more roads were unanimously voted to be vacated, including Poe Road No. 8350 and S.M. McKenzie Road.

Storey told the commissioners that Poe Road is a dirt road from Trestle Road to the Idaho border and is a bunch of farm ground. “I talked to one person neither for or against it,” Storey said.

Commissioner Art Swannack moved to vacate Poe Road, and it was passed unanimously.

S.M. McKenzie Road is a road that has not existed for many years, Storey told the commissioners. Storey said the road was established on Aug. 20, 1890, and has not been a functional roadway in over 50 years. “This one has been through a petition through the vacant property owners,” Storey said, noting that the road is encroaching on the right of way through said farming.

The commissioners unanimously voted to vacate S.M. McKenzie Road.

The last road on the docket for possible vacation was Old Barn Road No. 5230, Vaughn Road, and Vaughn Bridge No. 5230-00.05.

Several residents commented on retaining Old Barn Road No. 5230, Vaughn Road, and Vaughn Bridge Road.

One farmer told commissioners that his daughter wanted to build a house back at the end of the road and had several pictures that they could show the commissioners in wishing to maintain the road.

Another farm owner stated that they could get behind the vacation of the road if it meant that they could still use it and that the bridge was shared ownership.

The Commissioners decided to postpone a decision on vacating the road until Monday, Oct. 30, at 10:45 a.m. so that residents who were part of the conversation could bring forth additional information regarding the road.