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Coffee County highway commission praises crews after snow event, warns of limited salt supply and looming pothole surge
Summary
At its February meeting, the Coffee County Highway Commission said crews worked through a recent snow event using roughly 75 tons of salt, logged 113 hours of overtime and ran six trucks; officials warned a limited salt supply and freeze-thaw cycles will likely produce many potholes in coming weeks.
At its February meeting the Coffee County Highway Commission heard that county crews responded swiftly to a recent snow event but face a limited supply of road salt and a likely spike in potholes.
The Director told the commission that crews and local staff “used about, 3 truckloads, about 75 tons or somewhere in that neighborhood,” and that although two additional loads (about 50 tons) were expected, suppliers had run short. The Director said the department’s salt shed can hold “about a 125” tons, and staff were working to push stock upward in storage to prepare for additional storms.
Why it matters: the commission said low salt inventories and cold, wet conditions could reduce the department’s ability to treat roads and will increase the number of potholes that need repair, potentially requiring more paving than budgeted.
Staff detailed the operational response: a staff member reported the crews “worked 113 hours overtime and run 6 trucks,” and that two trucks were added this season to help manage snow removal. The Director said most snow-equipment performed well, though the department has had “a little trouble finding some parts for some of our older equipment.”
Officials previewed short-term repairs and equipment plans. The Director said crews expect a busy pothole season and that some sections may need paving when weather permits; he also described evaluating a hot box to keep patch mix workable in cold conditions: “We’re thinking about getting a hot box. We’ll try to rent 1. If we can’t, we’re gonna try to buy 1.”
The Director described additional operational obstacles after the storm, including beaver dams that blocked access to repair sites and required building temporary roads and hauling rock to reach problem locations.
Votes at a glance: The commission approved the meeting agenda and January minutes by voice vote and later adjourned; those were routine procedural voice votes with no roll-call recorded.
The commission set its next meeting for March 4 at Administrative Plaza at 3:00 p.m.
(Reporting based on remarks by the Chair, the Director, and staff during the February meeting.)
