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Henry County leaders say rising costs and flat road funds limit gravel road repairs
Summary
County leaders and residents said winter storms strained the road crew and exposed limits in funding for gravel-to-paved conversions; magistrates noted higher material prices and said only surfaced roads can be blacktopped with current funds.
Judge/Executive Scott Bates and Road Supervisor Zach Smith told the Henry County Fiscal Court that recent winter storms required extended plowing and salting, with two trucks out of service and significant material use. "The crew was busy and spent several long days plowing and salting the roads trying to keep them cleared and safe," Smith said.
Bates and magistrates described a funding gap that constrains paving and maintenance. Bates said the county's road fund has not kept pace with rising costs: "Rock prices went from $14 per ton in 2017 to over $20 a ton now, and blacktop prices have gone through the roof. Salt prices went up from $98 a ton last year to $121 this year. Everything has gone up except the road fund." Esquire Brad Fisher explained the scale of the challenge: "A mile of blacktopping costs $51,000, and this year we received $250,000 which would cover about 5 miles. We have 280 miles of County roads." The Court noted that discretionary funds cover only roads that are already surfaced and that gravel-to-pave conversions cost roughly $75,000 per mile.
Residents of Deerfield Farms raised those local impacts during public comment. Jim Marcum read a letter citing "surface degradation, hydraulic failure, public safety risks, and environmental impacts" and asked the Court for a response. Bates replied that the subdivision's roads were taken into the system at lower standards and that the county is limited to its current funding and state road-aid levels.
Road Committee Chair Brad Fisher and Judge Bates said the county has improved staffing and equipment since 2023, with additional trucks and a ready bushwhacker, but emphasized that large-scale paving will require new funds or higher state aid. The Court acknowledged pending state legislation to set a gas tax floor at 29 cents but said it is unlikely to move this election year.
What’s next: magistrates said they will continue to prioritize paved roads and pursue funding where possible; three roads remain on a discretionary work list pending available dollars.
