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Highway crews report heavy Johnson grass, mowing backlog and guidance for residents
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Summary
Staff said unusually heavy Johnson grass slowed roadside mowing and crews are prioritizing safety trimming; residents were asked to call the office rather than post complaints on social media.
Coffee County Highway Department staff told the Highway Committee that tall Johnson grass this season has slowed mowing schedules and created visibility hazards along several roads.
Benton, Highway Department staff, said crews fell behind after spring work and now are "contending with" Johnson grass that grows so tall "you can't see across the top of that Johnson grass." He said most stretches will fade after the next round of mowing but crews likely will need to make multiple passes this season to catch up.
Jojo, Highway Department staff, said crews are using recently delivered equipment, including another tractor and pole saws, to clear high grass and broken limbs after high vehicles damaged roadside trees. He described the tradeoff between cutting height and debris on roadways: "Where that back wing mows and he can't get that full 10 feet off in the ditch. I mean, it it does throw grass out onto the road."
Committee members urged residents to call the highway office for specific problems so crews can respond directly rather than posting on social media. The chair said a recent call led to a staff member using a blower to clear grass from a roadway within days.
The discussion emphasized ongoing maintenance work and no policy or budget changes were proposed or adopted.
