Board schedules May 6 public hearings on Level B and C road ordinances, to formalize Level B listings

Jackson County supervisors on April 22 approved setting three public hearings for May 6 to take public comment on two ordinances and a resolution that would formalize the county’s maintenance responsibilities and the official listing of Level B road segments.

County Engineer Jaden Shackle told the board the ordinances (No. 3-15 for Level B roads and No. 3-16 for Level C roads) define the county’s maintenance responsibilities, while the accompanying resolution will identify which road segments are designated Level B. "Ordinances are what our maintenance responsibilities are," Shackle said. He said the Level C list is well documented but Level B has not been fully recorded, and the resolution will formally list the roads and segments.

Shackle said the most significant change in the draft resolution is to document two road segments currently treated as Level A that staff recommend be designated Level B: portions of 250 Eighth Street and 270 Fourth Street. He said those segments are narrower than 18 feet for some stretches and in places have steep drop-offs where two large vehicles cannot safely pass. "If you meet, say, if you were to meet our grader or a dump truck coming down, there's no room," Shackle said. He said those segments have historically received little or irregular gravel maintenance but have in practice received some plowing and rock at times.

Shackle also told supervisors the county will post updated, color-coded maps online and make printed copies available before the hearings; he offered to publish draft ordinances alongside the maps so residents can review them in advance.

The board approved a schedule that allocates short hearing windows—09:00 for Ordinance 3-15 (Level B), 09:05 for Ordinance 3-16 (Level C) and 09:20 for the Level B resolution—so members of the public can address each item. Supervisors agreed to allow comment time but discussed reasonable limits for speakers if multiple people attend.

Why it matters: The ordinances define legal maintenance duties and influence which roads receive regular gravel, signage and snow removal. Formal designation also affects liability and requires appropriate Level B signs on the roadway.

Votes and next steps: Supervisor Mike Stennis moved and another supervisor seconded the motion to set the public hearing for Ordinance 3-15 at 09:00 on May 6; the motion carried by voice vote. A second motion set Ordinance 3-16 for 09:05 (carried), and a third motion set the Level B resolution hearing for 09:20 on May 6 (carried). Staff will draft the public notice and post the maps and draft ordinances ahead of the hearings.

Sources and attribution: Quotations and attributions in this story come from County Engineer Jaden Shackle and recorded board motions and votes during the April 22 Jackson County Board of Supervisors meeting.

Ending note: If approved after the public hearings, the ordinances will establish the county’s formal maintenance responsibilities and the resolution will finalize the listed Level B road segments, enabling the county to post required signage and update public maps.