Chickasaw supervisors adopt temporary 90-day road embargo limiting heavy loads

Chickasaw County supervisors voted Tuesday to adopt Resolution 03/16/26-16, authorizing the county engineer to place temporary embargoes of up to 90 days on county roadways to protect pavement damaged by freeze-thaw and heavy loading.

The board approved the measure after a presentation from Engineer Henry Roman, who recommended a 5-ton-per-axle limit as “a decent middle ground” between overly restrictive limits and higher allowances that could permit damaging loads. Roman said the rule would include exemptions for emergency services, school buses and traffic moving market farm produce, and that the engineer’s office would issue permit-style written exemptions where necessary.

The resolution was framed by supervisors as a tool to slow rapid pavement deterioration during vulnerable conditions. Roman said multiple stretches—some more than 25 years old—showed accelerated damage this season and that embargoes, paired with signage and selective permits, would protect reconstruction investments.

Board members debated enforcement and the potential for traffic to divert onto other county roads; one supervisor said he was “apprehensive” about the number of calls his office might receive. The county attorney and engineer explained that exemptions could be issued and that the county would place signage at termini of embargoed pavement.

The resolution was adopted by roll call; the clerk recorded affirmative votes from Steve, Travis, Isaac, Scott and Jake. The board directed the engineer to draft signage and a permit process and to handle questions from affected residents and haulers.

Next steps: Roman said the county will post signs at affected road termini, prepare a public information notice, and manage exemption requests through the engineer’s office. The board also noted the county’s reliance on TIP/TIF and grant funding to fund longer-term reconstruction.