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McFarland abstained. Motion carried. Held a 5-minute br�ak. 6. PUBLIC HEARING PETITION TO CLOSE ELM ISLAND ROAD— Quandt made a motion and Ziola seconded to open the public hearing. Arnold, Lancaster, McFarland, Purdy, Quandt, Schuppan and Ziola all voted yes and nane voted no. Motion carried. Chairman Lancaster requested the comments be kept at 5 minutes for each person requesting to speak. County Surveyar Casey Sh�rlock stated that the County Clerk received the petition to close the road and according to state statutes the county board ordered the highway superintendent to do a study of the road. He researched the road record books and there is mention of opening a road along an island. A cons�nt deed far the road was issued by the county attorney's office in 19�4 and the records make note of an easement. It noted the Lewis Ranch and on the 1996 map it show�d a road all the way to the St. Joseph Railroad. He reviewed the map of the sit� and noted the gate that is already across the highway easement. In general, as road director, it is his position to maintain status qua of any road. It is more difficult to obtain right of way and re open a road if it is closed. The board will need to take some action. Lancaster stated that Mr Sherlock knows the roads as well as anyone in the county and ask if there is any reason for anyone to have access to the gated part of the road. Mr. Sherlack stated that there is na reason but we need to retain the right of way it is too hard to go back and reopen and acquire right of way so it is best to leave it as it is. Crane Trust may have been unaware of the easement and there are only 2 landowners at this time. He stated they could close the road but still rctain the right of way for the easement and not allow public access. Schuppan questioned if the road is left as it is would there need to be formal action. Mr. Sherlock stated you could close the road westerly of the locked gate. This is a protected wild life area. If the gate is there the county cannot grade the road because if the road department goes in th� public can access it also. Arnold stated there are 2 issues you can close the road ar gate the raad and do not relinquish the easements. Chairman Lancaster called for public participation. John Amick 41 D Amick Avenue, Doniphan Nebraska Trevar Johnson #29 Sonja Drive Doniphan, Nebraska Mr. Amick provided the board members with a packet of information. He reviewed the pictures in the packet and not�d the plat map and th� list of incidents that the Sheriff's Department has responded toa in the last 5 years. He pointed out photos showing damage to the gates and the slgns and the liter left by the public. There are also incidents af hunting in a non hunting ar�a. There are 28 acres that are awned by Mr. Johnson. They agree that the right of way should be maintained but to gate the road. He noted a picture of Buffalo Road and Mr. Schuppan stated he farmed that property for 30 years and was familiar with it. He also noted the Sportsman's Club and that has always been gated and also noted other various properties on Monitor Raad that have access to the properties gated. Mr. Sherlack clarified if he meant to retain the right of way when he said to maintain it and Mr. Amick agreed. S