Mike Maddox, Vice President of the Lake Latonka Board of Directors appeared before the Marshall County Commissioners Monday in an effort to get the county to pave the roads in the private subdivision.
Last month Commissioner Mike Delp brought forth the idea after he was contacted by lake association. The proposal was for the lake association to purchase the material needed to improve the roads and have the county put the material down. While the commissioners considered the request, the county attorney had some reservations and the project was tabled for further review.
On Monday Maddox said he attended the meeting to plead his case before the commissioner and address their concerns.
Commissioner Delp said he drove the roads in the subdivision and had several concerns including trees hanging over and crowding the roadway, power lines crossing over the roadways and matching up the road surface with driveways.
Maddox told the commissioner the county has worked with the lake association in the past, when Neil Haeck was the superintendent. He said they paid for materials and the county did the work.
County Attorney Jim Clevenger said there is an issue using public equipment and manpower on private property.
Maddox said there are 199 homes in the subdivision that pay taxes and “We’re not receive anything from the county. We are paying for it yourself, but were stilling paying county taxes.” He continued, “We don’t feel we are taking advantage of anybody. We’re just trying to get something back for what we are putting out also.”
Commissioner Kurt Garner explained that the taxes the county receives for the road program are based on road miles in the county through the gas taxes. He said, “The 4 miles of roadway in the Lake Latonka subdivision are private so the county is not receiving any additional tax revenue for their maintenance.”
The commissioners tabled any action on the request for additional review and consideration.
Maddox closed his comments by saying, “I just want everyone to be open. We are willing to do whatever it takes to make everybody happy.”
