Landowners launch project to improve Little Missouri Rd

The condition of Little Missouri Road has troubled residents Jim and Otto Schlosser for several years, prompting an unsuccessful effort in 2018 to pave a 15-mile portion of it with the assistance of federal funding. Last week, however, the pair informed the county commissioners that they are now planning to fix the road themselves.

“We were hoping to fix up that piece of road from the bridge to the highway,” said Jim, explaining that the goal is a gravel road in good condition both for residents and the bentonite companies that use it.

According to Jim, the Schlossers will be working with Halliburton on approximately 3.8 miles of Little Missouri to perform the dirt work needed to make it into, “A really good road, raising it up.” The work will be performed in five to ten day blocks, around four or five of which he estimated will be necessary.

The Schlossers asked the commission if they would be willing to furnish the culverts for the road and build a new fence. Jim said he had spoken to a fencing company, which estimated $2.50 per foot to tear out the current fence and replace it.

“In essence, that fence would be a snow fence…nothing different than you see on any road,” Jim said.

The Schlossers would also be interested in widening the right-of-way for the road to 120 feet to allow for a 20-foot ditch and the fence. Jim asked if the commissioners would be willing to handle that process if, in exchange, the Schlossers paid the associated costs for the extra land.

Jim informed the commission that the Schlossers are no strangers to building road, having rebuilt the road on their own land. Road & Bridge Foreman Morgan Ellsbury suggested starting out with shale for a while for the sake of compaction, then switching to gravel.

“Shale provides an excellent base on the ground,” he said.

Jim, however, explained that the long-term goal is not gravel.

“Our long-term goal is eventually to get a permanent surface on it,” said Jim.

He told the commissioners that he has spoken with Representative Chip Neiman, who believes there could be available funding sources to get an asphalt cover for the road.

“We’re not talking today, but it’s something we can work towards. The most important thing today is to get to a road we can work with,” said Otto.

Commissioner Kelly Dennis expressed his concern over the maintenance of the road, if it was paved. He told the Schlossers he would want, “An iron-clad contract that the county isn’t going to put a penny of maintenance into that road, because the county is no equipped for it and can’t afford it.”

He also stated his belief that a treated gravel road would last about as long for truck traffic, if properly done.

Commissioner Fred Devish said he is not averse to providing culverts and fence if the Schlossers and Haliburton are doing the heavy lifting, but that he’s not quite so excited about the easements.

Jim clarified that, “We’re not proposing to widen the top,” which would mean the road was more expensive to maintain – it would remain 24 feet, as it is now.

Dennis said the commission would be willing to work with the Schlossers on creating the shale base and gravel top and getting the road into a decent condition. Commissioner Jeanne Whalen said the next step for the Schlossers should be to speak with the landowners along the 3.8 miles and ascertain their feelings on an extended right-of-way.

“I think we’re willing to be part of the game,” concluded Devish. County Attorney Joe Baron noted that the easement process will need to start with a petition of intent, which can be presented to the commissioners.