By Dewey Terrill

JC Post

Geary County officials took steps on Monday to prevent Bergkamp Construction from using Munson Road to access the new Junction City High School construction site. USD 475 Chief Operations Officer David Wild said, “It caught us a little off guard. There is a development agreement under legal review that hasn’t been finalized yet.” Wild noted USD 475 had the understanding that there would not be any issues and the parties understood through goodwill the agreement would be finalized.

Wild told JC Post he spoke to the school district’s attorney Monday afternoon. “He is putting together the last of his comments relative to it. I reached out to Charles Stimatze ( Geary County Commission Chair ) and said under the spirit of partnership I’m not sure this is the direction we want to go.”

Wild made it clear the district will maintain Munson Road to a usable standard during construction. Following completion of construction the District will pave the road and then turn it back over to the county.

Stimatze stated, “We are waiting on the road maintenance agreement. We’ve got it all turned in, gave our stuff to their attorneys and we’re still waiting on them to do the road maintenance agreement..” JC Post asked if they jumped the gun on the work. ” I don’t know if they jumped the gun on the work and everything but there’s no road maintenance agreement so they cannot use Munson Road.

Wild is optimistic the issue will be resolved in the near future. K-18 Highway also accesses the property.