By Myrna Trauntvein
Times-News Correspondent
Yuba Lake Road, which is a "D" road, is used by livestock owners to provide access to their cattle.
Wayne and Barry Monroe, two of those landowners, had met with commissioners earlier to request that the road be abandoned. They were back to find out what had been decided.
W. Monroe said that they wanted the county to no longer recognize the road as a public right of way.
"We have problems with vandalism," he said.
There are those who use the area for target practice. In one case windows were shot out.
In addition, there have been lots of ATV spurs created by careless riders which lead from ATV trails. Many who have little respect for property rights drive where they choose.
The road, claimed by the county as a class D road, goes below Yuba Dam and leads to several private properties. It is valuable because of its use by those same property owners to get to their private land and to use to move cattle.
"The road goes to Leo Robinson's property," he said. "He also supports the road being abandoned."
The road leads to another ranch and a home and goes no farther. The map shows, he said, that the road goes to corrals.
The water flowing from the spillway has also been a place where ATV riders have invaded. There have been those trying to jump the spillway and ruining the property there which belongs to the irrigators.
"The irrigation company met and they support the road not being open," said W. Monroe.
The access is a liability to property owners, irrigators and to the county, he said. It could be considered an attractive nuisance and could be litigated. The liability would be shared.
"It is a dam safety issue," said B. Monroe. "The dam itself is not private property."
W. Monroe said that if a gate could be closed, then those using ATVs who come on the property would be in trespass.
B. Monroe said that it was posted.
W. Monroe said that he and B. Monroe were trying to trade the land on the east for land on the west.
The Monroes run 95 head of cattle on their land. There are no fences because that gives the cattle room to roam.
Byron Woodland, commissioner, said that he was reluctant to abandon a road on the county road system. The commission had worked to keep all roads on the system open and he was not inclined to begin allowing roads to be abandoned.
The Old Highway 91 came to the gate of Robinson's property and the gate was locked. However, the county did not allow the gate to remain locked.
Prior to the mid-1970s, US 91 was an international commerce route from Long Beach, California to the Canada–US border. It is mostly part of I-15 in Juab County except for short distances.
"I think it is right that we should go and look at the road before we make a final decision," said Woodland.
Clinton Painter, commission chairman, said he agreed that the commission needed to travel to the site so they could make an informed decision.
Rick Carlton, commissioner, said that he agreed. He said the county should take the request under advisement until all commissioners have an opportunity to travel to the site together and see for themselves what the issues are.
"We have a fiduciary duty to our constituents to represent them," said Carlton. "We are all landowners."
Commissioners said they would try to make the trip in the next two weeks and have a final decision by the next commission meeting.
