Scott County Commission votes to keep county road open

BENTON, Mo. -- The heated debate on County Road 353 has been brought to a close: the road will remain open.

Scott County Commissioners voted to not vacate the road after hearing a final rehash of arguments from both sides during their Tuesday meeting, the Sikeston Standard Democrat reported.

"I believe we made the right decision," Commissioner Dennis Ziegenhorn said.

Randy Brazel and Larry Brazel repeated the arguments they have made since petitioning the county to close the three-mile road in the Lusk Chapel area running between County Road 351 on the north end and County Road 352 on its south end.

The Brazels said the road has no legitimate use to anyone other than area farmers and that the road is otherwise only used by people making meth or poaching deer.

A proposed contract signed by those in favor of closing the road provided that those with "legitimate" reasons, such as farming land in the area, would still be permitted to use the road.

"Who determines legitimate reasons to be on the road?" Mark Pemberton asked.

Presiding Commissioner Jamie Burger said that even with the contract in place, if landowners later decided to not let someone use the road, "someone would have to take them to court."

"Once something is private, you don't want to go through there -- you don't feel right going through there," Roy Birk said. "I don't feel welcome if it's private."

Pemberton also stated that if the road is to be closed because someone has made meth on it, the county should be a closing a lot more county roads as most every road has been used for that purpose at some time or another.

Burger noted commissioners have reviewed documents submitted by both sides and carefully considered all the arguments before asking for a motion.

Ziegenhorn then entered a motion "to keep the road open as a public road."

Commissioner Donnie Kiefer seconded Ziegenhorn's motion after which it was unanimously approved by the commissioners.

Kiefer said if it was a road near his home, he might feel the same way about having it closed "but I'm going to let my head overrule in this situation."