County Commissioners to survey right-of-way, ask farmer to move fence back

Wednesday, July 17, 2024 at 2:05 AM

By Kathy Bottorff

A Michigan Road property owner addressed his concern about a Mennonite farmer who has encroached on the county’s right-of-way north of State Road 110.

Dale Blanch appeared before the county commissioners this week and said he spoke with Commissioner Stan Klotz about a year ago without any results. He is concerned that the farmer, Harley Ramer moved his farm fence out about 20 feet into the county’s right-of-way three years ago and now has RTC and Sprint underground utilities inside his fence.

Commissioner Stan Klotz spoke to Mr. Ramer a year to a year and a half ago. He also spoke to Highway Superintendent Jason Peters who knew the fence was in the county’s right-of-way but with the topography of the property felt it was beneficial to the county not to have to maintain the right-of-way with mowing due to the deep embankment the fence sits past. The farmer’s livestock keeps the grass down.

Commissioner Mike Burroughs suggested having the County Surveyor survey the property to find the exact right-of-way line.

County Attorney Jim Clevenger said while it might create a problem for the Highway Department, it is the county’s responsibility to maintain their right-of-ways. His recommendation was to determine the right-of-way and have the farmer move the fence back.

Highway Superintendent Jason Peters said the bank is very steep and over the years the county has just skipped mowing there. Peters has spoken with the farmer and he understands the utility companies may need access to the buried infrastructure and the farmer is willing to allow that. Jason said it is out at least 15 feet but there is still room to get a vehicle off the roadway.

The commissioners discussed a Memorandum of Understanding between the county, Spring, RTC, and Mr. Ramer but there was still concern that other Mennonites might try and push their farm fences out into the county’s right-of-way.

After some additional discussion, the County Commissioners decided to establish the right-of-way line with a survey and ask Mr. Ramer to move the fence back to the county’s right-of-way.