Recent rains bring road issue

Union County Board of Supervisors and Secondary Roads Superintendent Al Hysell Monday discussed creating some legal pressure on those who go “mud running” on dirt roads after rains.

Hysell and supervisors discussed a suspect of mud running on various county roads Sunday afternoon. The area had received moderate rainfall since Saturday afternoon. Supervisor Rick Friday said multiple people witnessed the vehicle with Madison County license plates on 130th, 140th and 160th streets, all in northern parts of the county south of Lorimor. The suspect was traveling at an estimated 80 mph.

Nicknamed “mud running,” is when the driver of a vehicle intentionally drives at a high rate of speed over dirt roads after rain has created mud on the surface. The action is considered a form of entertainment. Mud running also causes road damage. Hysell said mud running can cause extensive ruts in the road. After the road dries, the ruts create a poor driving path. County crews then have to break up the ruts to create an improved road surface.

“If we find a person or two, we might scare the others off,” Hysell said about convicting a person or mud running. “It’s uncalled for.”

County officials understand how a cattle farmer may cause damage on mud roads using a tractor getting feed to his livestock, but the intent was to access his cattle. Officials may have a more difficult time proving a suspect is mud running. Supervisor Dennis Hopkins said a person may claim they were in the area for a valid reason, but needed to speed through the roads to avoid getting stuck in the mud. County officials are researching if other counties have an ordinance related to mud running and how it can be proven and enforced.

In other county road news...

Hysell is preparing for winter road conditions. The county has 1,000 tons of road sand and is acquiring an additional 400 tons of road salt when the snow and ice accumulate on the roads. The county will also use a brine solution to improve winter road conditions. Hysell is looking for newer trucks to apply the materials. His sources for used trucks don’t have any and it can be up to a two-year wait to get a new truck. The county’s road graders are able to move snow, if needed.

Hysell said the heavy snows in January were a lesson on how to efficiently move snow for the upcoming season. The snow events during the week of Jan. 8 included multiple emergency calls requiring a first-responder unit. Hysell said he was contacted by officials to determine if a certain road was cleared to make sure the needed emergency crew could make it to the address. Medical issues were the most common. Roads for those calls did get priority. Residents are encouraged not to call 911 about snow removal for their road.

Scheduled to happen during the week, portions of Hi and Dry Road will receive repairs. Hysell said equipment will be used to remove unlevel spots in the road. Drivers are cautioned to watch for the construction equipment.