STURGIS, S.D. – The Sturgis Council Monday night approved first reading of a right-of-way maintenance ordinance.
The goal of the ordinance is to create consistency on who has the duty to maintain the right-of-ways and to what standards the specific right-of-way must be maintained.
Throughout the community, maintenance of some right-of-ways is inconsistent and in some areas, the city has taken on the maintenance or maintenance is being neglected.
However, staff Attorney Eric Miller says many of the property owners already comply with the ordinance.
Miller says shifting right-of-way maintenance in some areas from the city to abutting landowners will have a significant impact on the allocation of city resources and staff time. He says these savings allow staff time and resources to be shifted to maintenance of public areas, such as city parks and streets.
