COUNTY SETS ROAD-PAVING POLICY

The Cape Girardeau County Commission's decision to put into writing a policy on paving of county roads should lead to more roads' being paved and a more orderly approach to the county's limited road-paving program.

The commission recently adopted a policy that features the option of county residents sharing in the cost of paving portions of roads they want paved. Commissioners say it will move some paving projects up on the county's priorities list.

For years the county has been paving gravel roads on a piecemeal basis, basing its decisions on which roads to pave mostly on traffic counts and safety concerns. It hasn't paved many roads. Only 76 of the county's 420 miles of roads have been paved because of the expense. Last year the county spent almost $400,000 to pave just 7.52 miles.

The policy spells out what information, rights of way and easements are needed to get a paving project on the list for consideration. Residents may petition the commission to consider paving a section of road. The petition must include the starting and ending points of the section to be paved, rights of way and agreement of all property owners along the stretch.

With county residents sharing in the cost, the commission could elect to step up its paving program. But paved roads are more costly to maintain than gravel roads, and should the new policy lead to paving of more roads, the county must be prepared to handle those additional costs.

In the meantime, residents who want their road paved will know how to proceed and where they stand on getting the work done.

The County Commission's decision to put the policy into writing was a good one for everyone concerned.