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Residents urge Oktibbeha County supervisors to fix dusty rural roads, cite health worries
Summary
At the March meeting, residents told the Oktibbeha County Board the dust from unpaved roads is aggravating asthma and that long-promised paving has not reached some driveways; supervisors said work is planned but could not give firm completion dates.
Residents used the public-comment period at the March meeting of the Oktibbeha County Board of Supervisors to press for immediate attention to dusty rural roads that they said are harming residents’ health. One speaker said Harris Road and nearby routes "need something to be done to it," noting elderly relatives who live on the roads and multiple years of waiting for repairs. Another resident, Dr. Victoria Robinson of 135 Dock Lane, said a short section of Bethesda Road that she was told would be paved during a previous campaign was not completed, and that dust from traffic worsens her health conditions.
The board acknowledged the complaints. One supervisor described past work on Harris Road and repairs to a wooden bridge that were completed in prior years and said county crews are working on the corridor. County staff and supervisors said there are plans to continue work but repeatedly told residents that they could not give a precise timeline for final paving, saying completion depends on budget, project sequencing and coordination among districts.
Board members urged residents to exchange contact information with staff so the road manager and county staff can follow up. The county said it is “cleaning out” ditches and has plans to place surface treatments where appropriate, but a supervisor cautioned the public that scheduling can span fiscal years. The county also said known project limits and district boundaries affect which short sections are included in a given paving contract.
Why it matters: Dust from unpaved, heavily traveled local roads can exacerbate respiratory illnesses, especially in older residents and people with asthma; residents asked the board to prioritize a short segment of Bethesda Road and to include Harris Road in future paving plans. The board committed to follow-up but did not provide specific dates for completion.
Board follow-up: Supervisors said staff will continue to evaluate the roads, and the road manager and county engineer were asked to provide updates and recommendations at a recessed meeting. Residents were encouraged to provide contact information so staff can coordinate next steps.
