The initial construction of access roads is considered by most to be the major cost in a roadway system. Experience indicates that annual maintenance will become the more important consideration. Top quality initial construction will reduce future maintenance and result in minimum costs for continued upkeep. First rate design and construction, however, will never totally eliminate the need for continued maintenance. Failure to establish a good schedule for required maintenance will also lead to unnecessary trouble and added costs. Private road design and construction should be coupled with a good prearranged maintenance agreement.
Maintenance tasks on private roads are the sole responsibility of the landowners. The county, or a political subdivision thereof, will assume no responsibility for private loss or damage that may result directly or indirectly from failure to properly maintain a private road.
Maintenance deficiencies on a private road may be reported to the Skamania County fire marshal by the emergency services or the public at large. The fire marshal will review the request to insure that adherence to the standards are being met. If not, there may be a maintenance compliance request issued to the owner(s) of the affected areas of the road listing the required maintenance that is impeding the emergency services access. This notice will include a timeline for completion. When the maintenance is completed, the property owner(s) shall respond to the requestor (Skamania County’s fire marshal) once the task has been completed. If the requested maintenance is not completed, the fire marshal will enforce the standards according to RCW 19.27.110, which references the International Fire Code Enforcement Procedures.
In the event any provision in this chapter is found invalid by a court of competent jurisdiction for any reason, that provision shall be stricken and the balance of this chapter shall remain in full force and effect. (Ord. 2008-02 (part): Ord. 1986-02 (part))