HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Reno County Commissioners are looking to close a small portion of Mohawk Road adjacent to the landfill. The closing is part of an overall master plan for the landfill for the next five to 10 years.
The closing would run the half-mile the road runs along the east side of the landfill. Plans are to build two new buildings including a new scale house, which would be on top of the existing road, according to landfill Director Megan Davidson. It would also allow better use of the section of land the county has east of Mohawk. While the land can’t be used as a landfill because of numerous pipelines that run through the area, it can be used for other things, according to Monte Markley with SCS Engineers, who is helping with the master plan.
“This area is suitable for soil borrowing and stormwater detention management and leachate ponds in the future,” Markley said. “So that gives the county room to expand those portions without expanding its solid waste footprint.”
Like with any road closing, there is a process for getting such action approved.
“It would be a matter of adopting a resolution stating an intent or at least recognizing the interest in the County Commission in vacating that road,” County Counselor Joe O’Sullivan said. The process would also include viewing the road in question and holding a public hearing with at least 20 days advanced notice. Once that is completed, a resolution could be approved by the County Commission.
Commissioner Ron Hirst stressed the need to completely study the matter before making any decision. Both commissioners agreed. Commissioner Bob Bush said that relocating the road is not really an option, noting that it would be money spent on a road that sees little use. An option to relocate Mohawk around the new buildings would cost around $100,000.
There’s just one road with access to Mohawk Road. That’s at the intersection with Blanchard. South of that, the road has been closed for several years at the railroad tracks. The matter will go before the commissioners again next Tuesday.