Coffee County Highway Commission reviews summer paving and mowing; approves agenda and minutes

The Coffee County Highway Commission convened Aug. 6 and heard updates from highway staff about summer paving, rising material costs, mowing delays tied to Johnson grass and several roadside safety concerns; the commission also approved its meeting agenda and the minutes from the prior meeting.

Benton, a highway department staff member, told the commission the crew has focused on paving and chip-seal work this summer and that the department has been stockpiling materials after learning contractors’ bids were increasing. Benton said the county paid “a little over a 100,000 to the oil company” used for mix and chip seal and that a payment to Rogers Group was “close to a 140,000” this month. He added the county’s insurance came in near $300,000 at the start of the fiscal year.

Why it matters: the quantity and cost of oil, stone and contractor work determine how many miles the county can chip-seal or overlay this year and influence which roads are prioritized.

Commission discussion and staff details

Benton said the crew had completed about 15 miles of work in recent weeks and noted Fountain Grove alone accounted for roughly eight miles. He said the crew finished work in a Park Creek subdivision and Red Oak Drive and planned to move on to Bonhalla (also…