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Commissioners add study of roadside pullouts for farm equipment on Glade and Taylor Flats roads to next week's agenda
Summary
Following repeated public complaints and commissioner concerns about slow farm equipment blocking traffic, Franklin County added a directive to plan and evaluate pullouts on Glade Road and Taylor Flats Road to the next meeting agenda.
Franklin County commissioners directed county staff to place a study of roadside pullouts for farm equipment on the June meeting agenda after multiple comments describing safety and traffic delays on rural roads.
Why it matters: commissioners said slow-moving farm equipment on two-lane rural roads is causing traffic backups and near-miss situations; they called for simple, low-cost pullouts so agricultural vehicles can yield to faster traffic without breaking harvest timing.
Public complaints and board discussion. Commissioner Baumann described repeated incidents and said "We need pullouts on Glade Road. We need pullouts on 68." He asked Public Works to evaluate locations where quarter-mile gravel pullouts could be installed to allow tractors and hay trucks to clear travel lanes safely. Public Works supervisor Craig Erdman was asked to prepare recommendations and possible sites, and commissioners asked that any landowners with suitable, level ground be encouraged to come forward.
Next steps. The board agreed to add an agenda item next week to give Mr. Erdman direction on pullout design and potential private-site use; the clerk will advertise the upcoming discussion and invite public input on proposed locations.
Scope and funding. Commissioners suggested the pullouts could be simple gravel pads and noted they will need field vetting to assess grading, right-of-way and cost. No specific funding authorization was made at the May 28 meeting.
