Jackson County approves updated secondary‑roads safety policy; engineer details mulching plan and demonstration

The Jackson County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday approved updates to the secondary roads department’s safety policy and heard detailed plans for brush cutting and new mulching equipment.

County engineer Jaden Chappell said the department’s safety committee — which includes the engineer, office manager, superintendent, three lead men and two union representatives — reviewed the policy and recommended adding term limits for the two union representatives. Chappell said the committee recommended a four‑year term so more employees could serve over time; he told the board renewal would be allowed so representatives could serve additional terms if selected again.

Chappell also described operational guidance tied to recent equipment purchases. The department’s new mulching‑attachment vendors advised doing a site review before work to locate fence posts, utility pedestals and other obstacles. Chappell said the department’s existing practices — staking right‑of‑way and maintaining as much of the work to the 33‑foot right‑of‑way as possible — will be included in the written policy. He said the department generally limits work to trees the crew can safely handle; the mulcher heads are rated for roughly 18–20 inches in diameter and operators will avoid using the attachment to “abuse” the equipment on very large trees.

The county will hold a demonstration of the new mulching equipment on Thursday, Oct. 16, at a site near Escape Grove for board members and representatives of other counties that have expressed interest. Chappell said the demonstration is not intended as a public event and warned that mulching generates flying debris, so the public will not be invited for safety reasons.

Why it matters: The safety‑policy update codifies long‑standing field practices and sets expectations for operator safety with new equipment. The equipment and the approach to coordinated segment work are intended to make brush‑clearing more efficient and to reduce long‑term maintenance costs.

Action: Supervisor Nan Flagle moved to approve the secondary roads safety policy update as presented; the motion was seconded and approved by voice vote.

Chappell also briefed the board on current projects, including several bridge and culvert installations, a project where crews encountered shallower bedrock than expected and the use of the sheriff’s office drone for project photos. He said the county will close short segments of road as crews work and send notifications to affected residents when closures are scheduled.