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Residents press Oktibbeha County for Harris Road upkeep after new bridge work
Summary
Residents asked the board for clearer upkeep plans for Harris Road after a bridge replacement; county engineers said they are evaluating sections for repair and short-term maintenance to keep the route passable.
Residents who live on Harris Road told the Oktibbeha County Board of Supervisors they appreciate a recently replaced bridge but remain concerned about road maintenance, dust and erosion that leaves segments impassable after heavy rain.
Catherine Bell and Brenda Kelly, both residents, described areas where recent gravel or stone placed after the bridge work washed away in storms and where tree growth in a nearby ditch diverts water onto the road. “When it rained real bad, you can’t get up through that way,” Bell said.
County staff said the county has asked the county engineer to evaluate the stretch from the new bridge toward Turkey Creek and the section from Harris Road down to Chapel Hill Church. Staff said they will dispatch road management crews to assess immediate repairs to keep the road passable and to look at longer-term options; they did not commit to paving the full section at this meeting.
Supervisor Williams moved and Supervisor Trainer seconded a motion to instruct road management to inspect the area and take immediate actions to improve passability. The motion passed unanimously.
Board members and staff acknowledged the short-term fixes—rock and ditch work—can be temporary when heavy rain follows, and said the county will include the section in an ongoing evaluation of road repairs and potential future paving priorities. Residents asked the county to consider a permanent surface rather than repeated short-term treatments; staff said cost estimates and prioritization will follow the engineer’s evaluation.
