Residents urge Heard County to reconsider herbicide spraying on rights of way

Heard County residents urged commissioners at the Feb. 25 meeting to rethink roadside herbicide spraying and to restore bush hogging in some areas.

Public Works Director Darold Wiggins presented a summary of right-of-way spraying from 2016–2019 and reviewed the road department's history of bush hogging and paving. Commissioner Gwen Caldwell said she was concerned that spraying could increase erosion and said she would like bush hogging reinstated in lieu of or in addition to spraying. Commissioners Larry Hammond and David Walls said they wanted comparative statistics from other counties before making changes.

Resident Diane Dawson told the board she worried the herbicides being sprayed could harm the bee population and lead to erosion on her property and asked the board to reconsider the spraying practice. Resident Sammy Noles echoed concerns and said the spraying had not been bid out to other companies; he also raised unrelated concerns about purchases by Chairman Boone. The commissioners agreed to review data and consider options before the spraying season began.

Other residents used the public comment period to press for more ditching and more bush hogging on dirt roads. The board did not take a formal vote on changing the right-of-way maintenance approach during the meeting and indicated further review was necessary.

The discussion leaves open several specific follow-ups: the board requested comparative statistics from other counties on spraying and maintenance practices; no procurement review or schedule change was recorded in the minutes.