Fiscal court names Zach Smith road supervisor after heavy snow response; court hears $60,000 equipment/salt bill

At the Jan. 21 Henry County Fiscal Court meeting, the presiding officer announced the appointment of Zach Smith as the county’s road supervisor and praised road crews for their response to a recent severe snow and ice event that the court heard caused heavy equipment wear and high material costs.

Why it matters: county residents depend on road crews during winter storms, and maintenance costs and staffing affect service levels and budgets.

The presiding officer told the court that Zach Smith “has been with us for a good while and he's helped me a whole lot” and said the county would provide Smith with a work cellphone so residents can reach him or leave messages through the court’s relay. The presiding officer thanked road staff by name and described the recent storm response: at one point the crew had five trucks on the road with four trucks stuck in ditches. “We used all of our salt… I would estimate we're just a little bit over $60,000 for just that one snow with all we used,” the presiding officer said.

Court members and staff said additional salt deliveries arrived and that repairs will be needed in spring for damaged ditch areas. The presiding officer and other speakers praised specific staff — including Toby, Daniel, Travis and others named in the meeting — for sustained work during the storm, and they acknowledged equipment checks and maintenance recommendations discussed by the road committee.

The fiscal court did not adopt a new budget item at the meeting; it recognized the expense and directed routine follow-up via the road committee and staff. The presiding officer said the committee met earlier to check equipment and that staff would assemble maintenance records and a file system to track repairs and preventive work.