The Starke County Commissioners have taken a first step towards adopting a truck route ordinance. It restricts routes for vehicles with a gross weight of more than 36,000 pounds to specified county-maintained roads or highways.
Under a proposal offered by Starke County Highway Superintendent Rik Ritzler, all locations in the county will eventually be within a mile of either a highway or a county road paved with hot mix asphalt which can better withstand the weight of heavy vehicles.
School buses are exempt from the proposed ordinance, as are delivery trucks. Over-the-road truck drivers and farmers who need to access fields within Starke County will be able to purchase annual permits designating which roads they can use.
Fines ranging from $100 for a first offense to $300 for a third or subsequent violation will be levied in an attempt to enforce the policy once it takes effect. Violators may also be liable for the cost of repairs to roadways. County Attorney Marty Lucas says the idea is to encourage compliance rather than generate tickets.
Ritzler sought input from Sheriff Bill Dulin, Starke County Economic Development Foundation Executive Director Charlie Weaver, county government officials and representatives of the farming community.
Farmer Lee Nagai was part of that process. He saw the proposed ordinance for the first time yesterday and asked for more time to review it and discuss its implications with other farmers. He says there’s no guarantee future commissioners will understand the importance of good transportation to the agriculture sector. Nagai also raised concerns about the unspecified permit costs. He told the commissioners he doesn’t mind paying his fair share, but he’s not sure what that is.
The commissioners adopted the proposed ordinance on first reading, which will allow for a public review of the proposal before a final vote is taken. Ritzler will also share the draft ordinance with the advisory group before the next commissioners meeting.
