The Saline County Commission voted unanimously on Monday to table a resolution establishing new permit requirements for oversize and overweight loads traveling on county roads.
County Engineer Justin Mader presented the proposed policy, which would update and replace an existing 2003 resolution that only covered building moves, while expanding regulations to include all oversized and overweight loads traveling through the county.
"Back on November 4th, 2003, the Saline County Commission adopted resolution 03-1810," Mader explained. "This resolution established a permit to move buildings through the county. However, there are non-building loads that move through the county that are oversized and heavier than legal loads, and we don't really have a mechanism in place to permit those loads."
The proposed policy defines oversize loads as vehicles exceeding 8½ feet in width, 14 feet in height, or with trailers longer than 59½ feet. Overweight loads would be classified as those with wheel loads exceeding 10,000 pounds, axle loads over 20,000 pounds (or 34,000 pounds for tandem axles), or total vehicle weights exceeding 85,500 pounds.
The policy would increase the permit fee from $25 to $40, which Mader noted is the maximum allowed by state statute. It would also define insurance requirements, outline requirements during transport, and establish traffic control and warning sign procedures.
"One of the things that has come up is ag equipment. There's nothing in this policy that exempts ag equipment," Mader acknowledged. "In the state statutes, there are some exemptions for ag equipment that are not in this policy."
During public comment, Tony Johnson of Salina questioned whether contractors moving multiple pieces of equipment would need separate permits for each trip, and who would enforce the regulations.
"Is this a single time permit just once? Because what I'm thinking of, if a contractor has to move multiple pieces of equipment across the county, does he have to buy a permit each trip? And then who's going to enforce this?" Johnson asked.
Mader confirmed the policy as written would require individual trip permits, but said he could look into adding language for annual permits.
Commissioners agreed with Mader's recommendation to table the resolution until the September 2nd meeting to allow Mader time to add agricultural exemptions and address concerns about multiple-trip permits for contractors.
