County officials agreed Monday to open a road that is sort of open, now, but with this decision it is really open.
County Engineer Clark Rusco explained the road, located just south of Cox Communications, running off North Washington Road, has been in use for several years, with five residences along it.
But the road has never been officially “open” prior to this.
Rusco explained it was developed as the housing area was developed years ago but the county never officially recognized it.
Joe Felke, representing Great Bend Township, said the township has helped get snow off the road, but it’s been maintained by the residents over the years.
Now the township will officially take on the care of NE 25 Road.
The official designation of the road, as detailed by the county, is: “That part of the Southwest Quarter of Section 16, Township 19 South, Range 13 West of the 6th Principal Meridian, Barton County, Kansas, described as follows:  Commencing at the northwest corner of the southwest quarter of said Section 16; thence on an assumed bearing of south 00 degrees 30 minutes 15 seconds west, along the west line of the southwest quarter of said section, a distance of 208.71 feet; thence on a bearing of north 90 degrees 00 minutes 00 seconds east, parallel to the north line of the southwest quarter of said section, a distance of 30.00 feet to a point on the east right-of-way line of a county road, said point being the point of beginning of the land to be described; thence continuing on a bearing of north 90 degrees 00 minutes 00 seconds east a distance of 1,013.55 feet; thence on a bearing of south 00 degrees 30 minutes 15 seconds west, a distance of 60.00 feet; thence on a bearing of South 90 degrees 00 minutes 00 seconds West a distance of 1,013.55 feet to the east right-of-way line of said county roads; thence on a bearing of north 00 degrees 30 minutes 15 seconds east, along the east right-of-way line of said county road, a distance of 60.00 feet to the point of beginning.”
Felke said the road meets the standards of being an official township road and the Great Bend Township is willing to take on its maintenance.
County Administrator Richard Boeckman said all of the five residents along the road signed the request to have it legally opened.