Naming of roads in the county shall be subject to the following standards:
A. Duplication By Sound Or Spelling Prohibited: In order to provide for the public health, safety, general welfare, peace, good order, comfort and convenience of the county and its inhabitants, as described in section 8-2-3 of this chapter, there shall be no duplication of road names by sound or spelling within the unincorporated areas of the county.
B. Duplicate Road Names; Procedure For Name Change:
1. In cases where duplication of road names exist, the administrator shall determine whether it is necessary to change the existing name of one or both roads. In such cases, the administrator shall propose a new name for one or both of the roads, or propose adding a suffix or prefix to one of the road names in order to differentiate between them. In such instances, the administrator shall notify, in writing, all owners of property adjoining the road (property owners) of the proposed road name, and the necessity for the change. Tax assessment records for the county shall be used to determine the individuals or other entities entitled to such notice. All state, federal, county or municipal entities adjoining the road shall be included in the property owners to receive such notice. All such property owners shall have thirty (30) days to respond, in writing, to the administrator concerning the proposed name change. The property owners may either accept the road name proposed by the administrator, or suggest a road name of their own. If more than fifty percent (50%) of the property owners specify a new name for the road, it shall be adopted by the administrator, and submitted to the board for approval. Proposed names not in conformance with current road naming standards employed by the administrator, or which contain inappropriate language, shall not be considered.
2. If the administrator determines, based upon the written comments received from the property owners, that there is no consensus for the name of the road, he or she shall conduct a public meeting, no sooner than thirty (30) days from the date of giving notice to the property owners, in order to choose a new road name. Notice of the public meeting shall be placed in a newspaper of general circulation within the county, stating the time and place of the meeting. After conducting the public meeting, if no clear consensus for the name is chosen, the administrator shall adopt a new name for the road, and shall submit it to the board for approval.
3. The board shall have the authority to either approve or reject the road name submitted to it by the administrator. If the board approves the road name, the administrator shall notify, in writing, the property owners and all appropriate government agencies of the new road name, and shall place notice of the road name change in a newspaper of general circulation within the county.
C. Unnamed Roads And Road Name Changes:
1. In the case of new roads, or roads currently unnamed in conformance with this chapter, any owner or owners of property adjoining said road (property owners) may petition the administrator to request a name for the road. All such petitions shall be made to the administrator at his or her current business address, as identified in this chapter. The administrator shall have the authority to determine whether it is necessary to name the new road, or change the name of the road. If such a petition is approved by the administrator, he or she shall contact, in writing, all owners of property adjoining the road to notify them of the petition. Property owners shall be determined as prescribed in subsection B of this section. If the proposed road name meets the standards for road names identified in subsection B of this section, the administrator shall adopt the road name, and submit it to the board for approval, and if approved by the board as prescribed in subsection B of this section, the administrator shall notify the property owners and all appropriate government agencies of the new road name, and place notice of the road name in a newspaper of general circulation within the county, all as prescribed in subsection B of this section.
2. In the alternative, if the administrator becomes aware of a road that is unnamed in conformance with this chapter, he or she may propose a name for the road, and shall notify, in writing, all owners of property adjoining the road of the proposed road name, and the necessity for naming the road. The procedure for adopting the new road name by the administrator, and for submitting it to the board for approval, shall be made in conformance with subsection B of this section.
3. In cases where the owners of property adjoining a road desire to change its name, they may petition the administrator in the same manner as prescribed in subsection C1 of this section. Road names shall not be changed more frequently than once every ten (10) years.
D. Continuation Of Existing Road: Where the proposed road is on the alignment and continuation of the existing road or where the road is on the same alignment but not linked to an existing road, the name of the existing road shall be applied; provided, however, there are not natural barriers such as lakes, rivers, interstate highways, etc., in which case the name may be changed.
E. Change In Direction; New Name: If a road makes a very obvious change in direction, a new road name may be assigned.
F. Subdivisions: Road names for proposed subdivisions shall be shown on the preliminary plat and approved by the administrator prior to the filing of the final plats in accordance with the provisions of this chapter; and
1. No plats shall be approved until there is compliance with all provisions of this chapter;
2. Subdividers shall erect road name signs at their own expense, in accordance with county standards.
G. Road Name Signs, Location: All road name signs shall be located in accordance with county standards.
H. Approval Of Names; Responsibility Of Developer: All new roads in subdivisions will be properly designated with a name. Said sign(s) shall be purchased and erected at the expense of the developer before being accepted and shall be subject to the prior approval by the administrator.
I. Other Road Signs, Maintenance: All other road signs will be erected and maintained by the county or by applicable highway districts. (Ord. 82-A, 8-10-1998)