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Resident urges county to repair eroding edges on County Road 81, asks commissioners to authorize work
Summary
Robert Johnson told commissioners that erosion and runoff are causing the edges of County Road 81 to crumble and presented a petition asking the commission to fund repairs and give road staff authority to address a hazardous segment now described as a safety concern.
Robert Johnson, a resident who identified himself as living on County Road 81, addressed the Chilton County Commission during the public-comment portion of the work session to request repairs to a severely deteriorated segment of his road. "The road has now gotten so bad that it's actually, it's actually falling apart at the at the edges," Johnson said, and asked commissioners to "give mister Sexton the fund to accomplish that."
Johnson said he had spoken with "mister Sexton" about recurring erosion where runoff crosses the pavement and creates widened, eroded shoulders that allow vehicles to run partially off the paved surface. He said crews recently dug and filled the washed area, but traffic is creating tire tracks on the repaired edge and the condition is now more dangerous. "So that's why I'm here. I'm asking the commission to, give mister Sexton the fund to accomplish that," he said, and invited commissioners to visit the site.
Commission leadership responded that if the issue rises to a safety level, road staff already have authority to act. The chairman told Johnson, "If it's a safety issue, mister Johnson, then Heath already has the authority to do something about it. He'd had to look at it and make that determination." Johnson also said Sexton had told him the road "is on the list for the next fiscal year."
Why it matters: Johnson emphasized motorist safety, noting that drivers attempting to pass on narrow, eroded sections could cause collisions. He described one incident where a driver pulled to the side to pass and that led to a potentially hazardous situation. Johnson asked for at minimum targeted repairs to the worst stretch between County Road 51 and a nearby hill slope.
Discussion and next steps: The commission did not take formal action during the work session. The chairman indicated road staff would evaluate whether the condition meets the county's safety threshold and could proceed under existing authority if so. Johnson's petition and request will inform staff review and any funding recommendation for the next fiscal-year list.
