Little Rice to discontinue portions of two roads

Oneida County forester Jill Nemec told the county forestry, recreation and land committee at its Jan. 13 meeting that the department had heard “third or fourth hand” that the town of Little Rice was actively seeking to  discontinue a portion of Gobler Lake Road and Kelly Fire Lane, both of which were the town’s roads, but on county forest property.

The sections of town road Little Rice wants to discontinue are 2.86 miles of Kelly Fire Lane and 4.21 miles of Gobbler Lake Road.

Nemec said if that should happen, the county would then need to decide whether it would formally adopt those portions of road as part of the county forest road system or if the county would abandon those portions of those roads. She said the matter could become “spicy7” when it comes to fruition, but she wanted the committee to be aware.

Gobbler Lane, she said, was located on top of an esker so it falls away quite quickly. While the section of road was in decent shape, she said, the visibility driving on it was difficult. She wondered if it would be better suited as a snowmobile or ATV and UTV trail. The committee, she said, would need to determine in what capacity to keep that road, if there was the appetite to do so.

 Kelly Fire Lane, Nemec said, was in good condition. She said the road was gravel and there was nothing really encroaching on it. Additionally, the road is a connector thorough way. Kelly Fire Lane, she said, was important specifically because it would affect access to the county forest.

Nemec said she felt it was likely the town saw little advantage in keeping those roads, as they only served the county forest. She said it was likely there were concerns about the cost of upkeep of the roads for the town.

She said as the property owner, it would be up to the county to decide what to do with those portions of roads. 

A public hearing has been set for January 29 at 10 a.m. at the Little Rice town hall.

Beckie Gaskill may be reached via email at [email protected].