Residents and officials clash over millings, dust and possible special assessments for Oakland Shores roads

Oakland — Residents packed a Town Commission meeting to press the town about dusty road millings and the possibility of paving in Oakland Shores, while town staff and legal counsel described financing options and legal limits for any future assessments. The meeting grew contentious as neighbors described ongoing dust problems after the town applied recycled asphalt millings to several dirt roads and discussed whether residents could be assessed to pay for full asphalt paving. “All we ask for when we started this 2 years ago was to address the dust,” resident Scott Rand said during public comment, adding that the millings “produce a lot less dust” in some places but have left other streets with “dry, loose, dusty materials.” The town’s legal adviser explained one route the commission can use: Florida Statutes, chapter 170, which allows municipalities to make roadway improvements and place special assessments on benefited properties. “The special assessments would be placed on the…