Camp Sherman questionss road plans

Camp Sherman residents raised questions about plans for roads in the rural area in a meeting held last week at Camp Sherman's Community Hall with Jefferson County Commissioners Bill Bellamy, Janet Brown and Jodi Egan.

About 25 local residents attended the question and answer session that focused particularly on a plan to connect of Metke Lane (a public usage road) with Pine Lodge Road (a county road).

Mike McCain, Jefferson County public works director, explained his reasons for signing approval of the permit last October 2. Pete Schay, a Metke Lane resident, had requested the permit because the roads are redundant, because concerns about dust, because Metke Lane is difficult to traverse in winter due to snow or in summer because of ruts, and because the costs of snow plowing/summer grading.

There is also concern for safety where the two parallel roads enter together at Road 1419.

There are two or three full-time residents living on Metke Lane.

Bill Bellamy emphasized that "the transportation plan is designed to maintain the rural flavor of the Camp Sherman area."

Several local residents expressed concern with the long range effects of the proposed road change. Pine Lodge Road is designed to handle between 250-500 cars per day according to county planner Chris Bedzel. Lurking in the background is a 60-acre parcel of land that might be developed into as many as 20 home-sites at the back of Metke Lane.

Again, Bill Bellamy stated that the county would only approve such a project with "major" changes in the present Metke Lane road system.

A final consensus was to expedite a plan that has general community support as soon as possible - certainly before the next snow season - to connect Metke Lane with Pine Lodge Road.

In other business, Janet Brown provided a review of the upcoming November Jefferson County Jail and Operating Levy. This would allow funding for a new jail, 911 support center and sheriff's office in Jefferson County.

The present jail facility, 16 beds in the courthouse basement in Madras, is deemed inadequate. A new facility would be equipped with 80 beds (to 154 with double bunking). Also included is a 30-bed work release center.

Currently, Brown reported, many sentences go unserved because of lack of jail space.

Jefferson County residents will be asked to support the $9.5 million dollar bond issue to construct the new facilities and an operating levy of $1.65 million each year to run the facilities.

Estimated cost for a $100,000 home would be: Bond - $69.60; operating cost - $153.60; total - $223.20 per year (about $20 per month).