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Committee reviews limits of dirt-road paving program as rights-of-way and funding constrain scope
Summary
Committee staff said the county’s five-year dirt-road plan covers roughly 65 miles remaining countywide but rights-of-way issues limit action to about 12–14 miles; funding comes primarily from local tag funds and progress depends on annual tag revenue and owner easements.
At the meeting Rusty updated the committee on the county's dirt-road program and the sequence for moving a road from request to construction. He said engineers are finishing plans for Dolphin Watch, permits are in place and contractors (HIERS) are expected to begin erosion control around April 1. "The DOT, has the permits have been received ... HIERS is gonna start the erosion control about April 1," he said.
Committee members pressed on the procedural and funding constraints for paving dirt roads. The chair reviewed the five-year dirt-road analysis and told members the county identified about 65 miles of dirt roads remaining and that, because of rights-of-way challenges, "I think there's only probably no more than 12 or 14 miles of dirt roads that the county can even take action on and pave." The chair said tag funds are the primary funding source and that available revenue limits the program to roughly a mile a year when tag revenues and project costs are balanced.
Rusty and the chair agreed to bring the out-year program lists (projects 56–58 and the next-cycle priorities) to the next meeting so members can see which roads remain eligible and how funds would be used. No formal action was taken, but the committee directed staff to return with the updated out-year plan and clarified funding assumptions.
