Holmes County commissioners weigh speed reduction and signage after crashes on Hathaway Mill Road curve

Residents and county staff told the Holmes County Board of County Commissioners on July 1 that a sharp curve on Hathaway Mill Road has been the site of repeated accidents and asked the board to take immediate steps to improve safety.

Julissa Brannon, who said she has family on the road, told commissioners, "I don't feel safe on that road," and urged a combination of measures to slow traffic. County staff and the county engineer described options ranging from updated reflective signs and chevron markers to vegetation clearance and, as a longer-term solution, redesigning the curve. The engineer told the board a full redesign could cost tens of thousands of dollars and may require property easements, while signs and vegetation work are lower-cost immediate steps.

At the meeting a commissioner moved that the county begin with chevron markers and lower the posted limit in the curve to 15 miles per hour; another commissioner seconded the motion. Staff said they would install reflective chevrons and new curve-warning signs as a minimum and assess vegetation removal. The engineer noted that making the curve into a near-90-degree intersection with stop signs would likely cost more and require right-of-way work and possible easements.

The transcript includes discussion of potential design costs, with the engineer giving a rough range if a realignment were pursued. Residents and commissioners discussed speed bumps and liability concerns, with staff cautioning that speed bumps are typically used in subdivisions rather than on rural through roads.

The transcript records the motion to start with chevrons and to reduce the speed limit and records staff direction to proceed with signage and vegetation clearance, but it does not include a roll-call vote in the text.