County measure to increase road mills

"Which road would you like us to fix? Because $318,000 (currently 10 mills) will only overlay one mile of road," said Foster County Commissioner Alan Scanson at the special commission meeting held on Friday, March 15.

The meeting was held to decide how many road and bridge mills they want to ask for on the 2024 primary election ballot in a county measure.

The commission can legally levy 10 mills for roads without a vote of the people. Any mills over 10 must be approved by a vote. A mill is currently worth $32,512.21.

Currently, the county maintains roads on 22 mills that was levied in 2015 and lasting until 2025. At the end of this year, 12 of those mills expire, leaving only 10 mills.

If the county measure fails, the county would be looking at maintaining roads on only 10 mills until the next election.

To be clear, 10 mills is only $318,000. It would cover the cost to overlay only one mile of road.

The question is, how would the county continue the level of service they have been providing to maintain roads on only 10 mills?

In comparison, Steele, Nelson, Sargent and Griggs counties levy 25 mills for roads and bridges. Those counties are close to the size of Foster County.

Residents who want to know where their tax dollars are going should consider the following mills currently levied:

• County General-27.93

• County Road-2

• Farm to market-10

• Veterans Service-0.77

• County Agent-2

• Ambulance-10

• Courthouse Repair-6

• County Emergency-0.22

• County Health District-5

• Soil Conservation District-2.5

• Historical Society-0.75

• JDA-2.66

• Garrison Diversion-1

• State Medical Center-1

• Senior Citizens-2

• Foster County Specials-0.1

• Water Board-4

• Weed Board-3.2

Commissioner Scott Beumer said if they don't have the money to maintain the paved roads, they will have to start grinding up roads and turning them back to gravel.

A motion was passed to ask for 25 mills on the ballot including the 10 mills the commission can legally levy. The measure will be placed on the primary ballot for voting on June 11.

Also on the agenda the commission:

• Learned about the cost of future paving or overlay projects from Mike Rivinius of Wold Engineering.

• Reviewed income from townships and expenses from last year for road maintenance.