OSAGE, IA- A ban using steel wheels on new cement roads in Mitchell county is creating some controversy between steel wheel farmers and county officials.
Members of the Mennonite community, or steel wheel farmers, say steel wheels are not that easy to give up.
Peter Nolt, a steel wheel farmer says, "we're holding on to a tradition that was kept up until now."
That tradition created a problem after the county spent millions of dollars to pave a road with cement, then started noticing problems caused by steel wheels.
County Attorney, Mark Walk says, "you could see the damage, the county was getting complaints from other citizens saying you've got this new road and it's being damaged and busted up; what are you going to do about it?"
They packed the Mitchell county courthouse today, hoping to come up with a compromise with area lawmakers.
State Representative Mark Kuhn, from Charles City says, "we'd like to see a win-win situation that protects roads and allows farmers to harvest their crops."
The steel wheel farmers drafted a proposal asking that the steel wheel ordinance to be suspended for sixty days.
It also says steel wheel farmers will help pay for Mitchell county to repair any damages done to the roads by the wheels.
But, after a couple hours of going back and forth, no deal has been reached.
In the meantime the Mennonites issued a statement.
State Representative Mark Kuhn says,"there're going to abide by local ordinance 41, they're going to abide by IA state law, and if that prevents them from harvesting their field or effects their livelihood, so be it."
Both sides would like to see it resolved soon.
Nolt says, "we had a good meeting today but we're kind of un happy we couldn't come up with a resolution."
The Mitchell County Board of Supervisors are planning on talking about the proposal in more dept at their weekly meeting Tuesday.
