Jefferson County adopts updated road standards ordinance, adds engineer oversight

The Jefferson County Board of Commissioners on March 9 adopted a new set of county road standards aimed at establishing uniform specifications for design, construction and maintenance of county roads and related infrastructure. Chairman Hancock read a summary of Ordinance #2026-03 and Resolution #2026-15 before the board voted to adopt the documents after minor edits.

County Road & Bridge staff Mike Carter and Sam Scott presented the final draft and the commissioners requested clarifications to section five to identify who determines when previously unsafe subdivisions meet standards and to add the county engineer to the hierarchy for section 5F. After those minor adjustments, Commissioner Clark moved to approve the ordinance and Commissioner Young seconded; the roll-call vote was three ayes and the ordinance and associated resolution passed.

The adopted ordinance updates and supersedes prior roadway standards and incorporates certain statewide specifications as supplemental standards. The board’s edits specifically direct that the county engineer be included in the administrative hierarchy for the provision cited as 5F and clarifies the process for determining safety in older subdivisions. Mike Carter told the board the documents had been reviewed and approved by county legal counsel prior to adoption.

The ordinance takes effect as recorded in the resolution adopted alongside it. The board indicated the matter had been discussed previously and that the final document reflects edits requested by the commissioners earlier in the meeting.