Supes delay decision about road

Glenn County supervisors put off a decision this week on whether to close a section of County Road 23 where it crosses the levee near Hamilton City.

The proposed closure of the road with a gate proved problematic to the board with Supervisor John Viegas absent. As a result, the board decided Tuesday to wait for his return and more information before voting.

This is one option brought forth by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to deal with vehicle crossing over the setback levee improved last year as part of the Hamilton City Flood Damage and Ecosystem Restoration Project.

Mark Boedtker of the Corps of Engineers told supervisors the other two options include re-enforcing the road ramp over the levee for a 20 mph speed limit, with a speed bump and signs, or constructing a ramp for a 55 mph speed limit which is the current limit on the road now.

Public Works Director John Linhart suggested building the 55 mph ramp since that is the current speed on County Road 23. He added lowering the crossing to 20 mph might cause liability issues with motorists not observing the speed limit.

However, Linhart said he is open to which ever option the board chooses, bearing in mind that if the road is closed east of the levee — state or federal funding for that section would be lost forever.

Glenn County receives about $2,500 per mile in Proposition 42 and Highway Users tax revenues, Linhart said, to be used on various county road repairs.

Supervisor Leigh McDaniel said he favors closing the levee with a gate since the area is prone to illegal dumping and other problems.

"It also might be expensive to maintain the road after it floods in that area," he said, explaining that would likely cost more to fix than the $2,500 per mile.

However, Supervisor Steve Soeth objected to closing the road particularly to deal with illegal dumping.

"I would not have a problem with the 20 mph limit," he said. "But let's start closing county roads. That will be real popular with the public."

Board Chairman Mike Murray said he likes the idea of shutting it down but needs more information on maintenance and liabilities before deciding.

And Vice Chairman Tracey Quarne warned he did not want to create an "attractive nuisance" since teens would probably try to jump the gate with their cars or do other damage, he said.

Public access to the Sacramento River and areas around the levee would still be allowed at that point, officials said, but it would be restricted to pedestrian use — not vehicular traffic.

The property near the levee and river at that location is owned by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Nature Conservancy. The wildlife service is planning to build a parking lot there in the future.

Representatives of the Nature Conservancy and Reclamation District 2140 said they had no problem with closing the levee road.

But issues of responsibility for the abandoned roadway would need to be reviewed, District 2140 attorney Bill Paris said.

Gregg Werner with Nature Conservancy said his group would give its property to the wildlife service and would like it to be open to small numbers of people for hiking, photography, hunting and so on, and that could be achieved with the gated levee.

Contact Rick Longley at 934-6800 or rlongley@tcnpress.com.