Coffee County Road Commission reviews new hot-box purchase and paving plans, discusses speed signs and a persistent water leak

Coffee County Road Commission members at their March meeting heard a detailed update from highway office staff about winter pothole repairs, new equipment acquisitions and plans for paving and shoulder work.

Jojo, who provided the highway office briefing, said crews have been patching nonstop since recent snow and that the county purchased a trailer-mounted hot box to keep asphalt warm for repairs in cold weather. "It's where we can, like on days when it's below freezing, our patch can stay warm instead of it being hard as rock," Jojo said. He added the 2-ton model is trailer-mounted, runs on diesel and can be filled with hot asphalt from Rogers Group; crews can open the rear chute and shovel material as needed to keep repairs workable at controlled temperatures.

Jojo also reported that the paving machine and roller have been serviced and that the department expects to present a paving list at the next meeting. He said crews placed gravel shoulders on Gowen Road, using about 12 tandem-axle truckloads, and that the department bought a loader attachment to replace a skid steer for some shoulder and mowing work. "We put some gravel shoulders down. That went pretty good. Gowen Road. That took 12 tandem axle truckloads of gravel," Jojo said.

The commission discussed coordination with the city on additional shoulder work. Jojo said he and Benton spoke with George Gannon "with the city" about allowing the county to do shoulders on Asbury from Highway 41 to the county line; Gannon must take the proposal to his city committee for approval.

Members raised traffic and safety concerns affecting local roads. Carolyn reported residents' worries about speeding on Blanton's Chapel and asked whether recommended speed signs were still available. Jojo explained the county can install advisory (yellow) signs recommending a lower speed but that legal speed limits are set and enforced by the state (the affected stretches currently read as 55 mph). He also described a solar-powered, moveable message/radar sign the department has used to display advisory speeds and other messages. "We had it out in the last couple weeks," Jojo said, noting crews can move the unit and program messages at no operating cost when solar-powered.

Carolyn also relayed concerns about small black posts near the lake that residents feared were cameras; she said some worried the companies operating them might sell data. Jojo and other commissioners said they had not observed road cameras on county roads and noted that some roadside mirrors had been mistaken for cameras.

A persistent water leak in a resident's yard and ditch also drew attention. A commissioner described a yard that has held water for about a year; Jojo said he inspected the site and found water coming from the ground in a steady stream and that the flow was not running through the property meter, suggesting the source is on the main. Jojo said staff would call utilities and that simple chlorine testing can help determine whether the water is from a potable source.

Commissioners praised the patch crew for frequent and timely pothole repairs over recent weeks, singling out several crew members by nickname for steady work. They also addressed an oak tree overhanging Arlo Road and planned shoulder-cutting work next week, with Jojo offering to deliver dirt where needed.

Procedurally, the commission approved the meeting agenda and last month's minutes on voice votes and set its next meeting for April 1 at 3:00 p.m. at the Administrative Plaza. The meeting adjourned shortly after 3:30 p.m.

What happens next: the highway office will finalize and present a paving list at the next meeting; county staff said they will follow up with the city committee on the Asbury shoulders proposal and contact utilities about the reported water leak.