Highway superintendent asks for $1 million for paving as recycling and hauling costs rise

Jeff Hedrick, Blount County highway superintendent, told the budget committee the department is responsible for roughly 1,400 miles of county roads and described recent accomplishments and new priorities.

Hedrick said the department resurfaced about 120 miles last season and aims to increase that to 100–150 miles in future cycles. He asked the committee to consider an additional $1 million for paving (hot mix) to keep pace with maintenance needs.

Hedrick also detailed the county’s recycling and roll‑off program: he said the current hauls are five times per week but to serve demand the county needs seven hauls weekly. He reported a per‑haul cost of approximately $360.51 and said the vendor has proposed increases that could raise the per‑haul fee to about $448.52, which would materially increase annual operating costs and is driving the department to consider purchasing cab-and-chassis roll‑off equipment.

He emphasized proactive right‑of‑way maintenance, tree removal to prevent storm damage, guardrail installations and expanded use of aerial and underwater drones for inspections and documentation, noting that the department has begun to capture measurable savings by doing work in‑house.

Why it matters: County roads, drainage and recycling directly affect daily life for residents and property owners; accelerated paving and higher hauling costs will increase near‑term budget pressure and may affect service levels or require reallocation of funds.

What’s next: The committee will weigh the highway department’s capital request for paving and consider options for addressing rising hauling costs during the budget review process.