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Harrison County supervisors deny reimbursement after resident says pothole damaged car
Summary
The Harrison County Board denied a Feb. 11, 2026 reimbursement claim after a resident said two tires and rims were damaged by a roadway defect; staff said the evidence showed the damage was outside the county'maintained traveled lane and that state law requires proof of county negligence for reimbursement.
Heather Hundl asked the Harrison County Board of Supervisors to reimburse repairs after two tires and rims were damaged while she was driving to her daughter's basketball game on Feb. 11, 2026. Hundl said bright lights from an oncoming tractor forced the driver to shift right and the vehicle struck a road defect; she told the board, "We were on the road the whole time." (Heather Hundl, resident)
County staff and supervisors examined incident photos and an internal incident summary and said the evidence in the record shows the damaged pavement was to the right of the travel lane. Staff told the board that, under state law, the county can only reimburse such claims if there is proof of county negligence.
Board members questioned whether the hole had been in the maintained lane, noted a public Facebook post reporting similar incidents in the area, and reviewed statements from residents who said the same location had caused tire damage to multiple vehicles. Hundl said she missed two days of work and provided repair receipts and a pending alignment quote; she put the out-of-pocket repair total at about $97.67 and said she had supporting receipts and quotes.
After discussion, a board member moved to deny the claim because the county'record showed the pavement repair was outside of the traveled lane and therefore did not meet the county's negligence threshold. The board approved the motion to deny the reimbursement request. The board advised Hundl she could pursue the matter through her insurer or by filing a civil claim against the driver that Hundl says forced her toward the road edge.
Why it matters: County liability for vehicle damage turns on negligence and whether a roadway defect is within the maintained traveled lane. The board's decision underscores the county's interpretation of that legal threshold and signals that residents whose vehicles are damaged outside the marked lane may be directed to insurance or civil remedies rather than county reimbursement.
Next steps: The board did not vote to reopen the claim; supervisors suggested Hundl obtain the police report and pursue a civil remedy or insurance claim if she seeks recovery from the other driver. The matter was closed from the board docket following the vote.
