Monday morning the Marshall County Commissioners conducted a public hearing on the NO THRU TRUCK ordinance.
The idea of an ordinance restricting heavy trucks on county roadways came to light last fall when a couple residents complained of damage semi-trucks were doing to county roads. Commissioner Mike Delp followed more than one semi-truck that traveled from the northern county line through the back roads of the county and eventually on to a state road.
In October the commissioners proposed creating an ordinance that would restrict trucks over 26,000 pounds on county roads that are signed with the restriction.
New commissioner Stan Klotz said he had two concerns: the $100 first offense fine wouldn’t stop anyone from violating the ordinance and enforcement. He suggested creating an inter-local agreement with local police agencies to assist with the enforcement.
Marshall County Sheriff Matt Hassel told the commissioners the local ordinance setting fines and penalties is still pending but it was created for one set fine for each offense. He told the commissioners he preferred a single fine instead of the proposed $100 for a first offense and $500 for the second and subsequent violations.
During the public hearing, businessman Jeff Gustafson was concerned that his trucks would traverse county roads to make deliveries and may not make a delivery on a road signed as NO THRU TRUCKS but his trucks would use the road to get to another delivery site in the county.
Commissioner Kevin Overmyer acknowledged the need to do some additional work on the ordinance to address the concerns presented. It was also determined to make the set fine amount $300 for each and every violation.
The commissioners took no action on the second reading of the ordinance and proposed looking at a revision at their next meeting on January 22nd.
