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Residents urge action on County Road 53 and 43; request access to opioid settlement funds
Summary
Public commenters asked the commissioners to prioritize paving and repairs on County Road 53 and County Road 43, raised concerns about damage after a chip-seal project, and requested that opioid settlement funds reach local recovery programs; commissioners said the roads could be considered in the FY 2026‑27 budget cycle and will follow up on opioid‑fund eligibility.
Several residents used the public‑comment period of the May 12 meeting to press the commission on local road maintenance and on distribution of opioid settlement funds.
Robert Binyon described a roughly 3.4‑mile stretch of County Road 53 between County Road 9 and Enterprise Road as in poor condition and asked that the county include it in the next budgeting cycle; he also urged that opioid settlement funds be used for treatment and housing programs in West End, and said he will submit a written proposal to the commission at the next meeting.
Jim Long presented photos and detailed complaints about County Road 43 following a chip-seal resurfacing eight months earlier. Long said loose gravel and thin surfacing had caused vehicle damage and that driveways adjacent to the project were left unrefinished; he asked whether a traffic study had been performed before the surfacing decision. County staff and commissioners acknowledged the concerns, said pictures would be reviewed, suggested machine grooming and potential additional top-coat options, and said budgeting for reconstruction could be considered during the FY 2026‑27 budget process.
Commissioners noted that opioid settlement funds are available to qualifying 501(c)(3) organizations and advised commenters to work with the commission office and procurement/HR staff to submit proposal packets for consideration during budget discussions.
