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Committee reconfirms JDOT mailbox policy but rejects amendment to add permit/MISS DIG guidance
Summary
The committee reconfirmed Jackson County Department of Transportation policy 81-30 on mailboxes and forwarded the policy to the full board; a proposed amendment to add explicit guidance that residents must obtain right-of-way permits and call MISS DIG before replacing posts failed for lack of support.
The Jackson County Public Safety and Transportation Committee voted to forward a reconfirmation of Jackson County Department of Transportation (JDOT) policy 81-30 on mailbox damage and replacement to the full county board, after commissioners discussed liability for posts knocked over by plows and whether the policy should contain permit and MISS DIG guidance for residents.
An administration representative handling JDOT policy updates said the policies were carried over from the former road commission and are being reconfirmed under new numbering. Commissioner Bair raised a concern that a mailbox post at her residence had been knocked over by snow pushed by a plow rather than by direct equipment contact and asked whether policy 81-30 would allow replacement of posts damaged by snow load. The JDOT representative replied that under the written policy the county is liable only if equipment physically strikes the mailbox; non-contact damage (for example from snow pushed by a plow) is the property owner’s responsibility.
Commissioner Bair proposed amending the motion to add explicit language directing staff to inform residents that working in the right-of-way requires a permit and that they should contact MISS DIG before digging or replacing posts. The amendment failed for lack of support. Committee members noted there are existing right-of-way and permitting rules and that MISS DIG (the statewide utility-locating service) is a separate requirement residents should follow regardless of the mailbox policy.
The committee then voted to forward reconfirmation of policy 81-30 to the full board. The motion passed with one commissioner recorded as voting no.
What happens next: Policy 81-30 will be sent to the full county board for formal reconfirmation. Commissioners asking for clearer resident guidance may pursue separate language or outreach materials rather than embedding permitting instructions in the reconfirmation motion.
