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Assistant blade foreman says crews adopting new techniques, emphasizes training
Summary
JR Rice, Smith County assistant blade foreman, told commissioners crews are using techniques he introduced and that he spends substantial time training new employees on crown maintenance; commissioners discussed material needs and traffic impacts from neighboring county construction.
JR Rice, Assistant Blade Foreman, told the Smith County commissioners during a special session that many of his crew "are using" techniques he implemented and that he "spends quite a bit of time" training new employees on how to keep a road crown.
Commissioners pressed Rice on specific needs and outcomes: Rice said several rock roads are "thin and need material," and he noted concern that bridge construction in Phillips County could divert extra traffic onto county routes such as 180 Rd west of C Rd. Commissioner Jim Gwennap asked Rice to inspect a driveway on Z Rd; Rice said crews mark utility "range by location, but do not tell the depth," calling attention to a potential safety and coordination gap when working near utilities.
The discussion focused on on-the-ground practices rather than new policy changes. Commissioners encouraged readiness for the fall harvest and for crew planning to make affected roads passable by Sept. 1.
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