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Supervisors warn solar‑project truck traffic is damaging Murphy Road; bond and route enforcement debated
Summary
County road staff told supervisors that heavy trucks for a solar farm on Murphy Road are damaging shoulders and short sections of pavement. Board members questioned whether the project's travel-route bond (cited in total as $132,000) and the county's $10,000-per-mile standard are sufficient, and directed staff to document damage and use bond funds where needed.
Clay, the county road manager, reported inspections with NextEra/Moss & Associates for a solar farm near Murphy Road and said substantial truck traffic is damaging shoulders and causing short, localized failures that will require excavation and re-compaction. He said county staff documented conditions before construction began and filed police reports when trucks used unapproved routes.
Supervisors raised questions about the travel-route bond amount. One speaker cited a combined bond figure of $132,000 covering multiple roads; others noted the board’s prior increase to $10,000 per mile but said that figure is unlikely to cover full reconstruction if damage spreads. Clay said the bond should cover small spot repairs but not wholesale rebuilding.
Board members debated whether to keep contractors on their permitted routes to avoid further damage and whether to use bond funds to make interim repairs to passable condition until final restoration. Staff said they had recorded initial road conditions with contractor representatives and planned to map repair needs. The board asked staff to continue documentation, coordinate with planning/permits, and pursue enforcement if contractors fail to repair specified damage under permit terms.
No formal change to bond policy was approved at the meeting; supervisors asked staff to bring further recommendations and cost estimates for any changes to bond amounts or enforcement options at a subsequent meeting.
Ending: The board recorded direction for continued documentation, potential use of bond funds for small repairs, and follow‑up analysis of bond sufficiency and permitted travel routes.
