The Rock County Board of Commissioners Tuesday turned down a request to take over a one-mile stretch of a Martin Township road, now known as 41st Street.It’s the east-west road near the former Cargill elevator, which was purchased by New Vision Co-op last spring. It is also owner of Hills-Beaver Creek Co-op.As a part of Cargill’s original purchase agreement, Cargill was required to return the township road to original condition if it left, or sold the property. It paid about $30,000 to do so. New Vision wants to remove that from its arrangement with the township.New Vision was asking the county to assume responsibility for a mile of the road because it doesn’t want to include roadwork as a part of its business, according to Frank McDowell, general manager of New Vision.He said, “We aren’t trying to walk away from additional maintenance on the road.”McDowell said that New Vision already agreed to pay for any additional work the township incurs on the road, beyond what it would do for any other road.Considering the improvements New Vision is making to the property, and the economic and tax impacts, McDowell said the county might look favorably on taking the road off the township’s hands.The county isn’t able to take on more state-aid roads because the state requires two connecting points before approval. Commissioners said the particulars of the negotiations between the township and New Vision aren’t up to them to influence, since it can’t take the road.
