Giles County Highway Committee Meeting Minutes January 05, 2023
Members Present: Tracy Wilburn, Shelly Goolsby, Roger Reedy, Joyce Morgan, Evan Baddour, David Adams and Matt Rubelsky
Other Members Present: Judy Pruett, David Wamble, Gayle Jones, Terry Jones, Maurice Woodard and James Lathrop
Also Present: Barry Hyatt, Erin Harmon, Beth Moore-Sumners, Nancy Griffin, Shana Woodard, Scott Stewart, Mr. and Mrs. Jerry Chapman
Meeting was called to order by Vice Chairman Tracy Wilburn at 9 am on Jan. 05, 2023
Prayer led by Matt Rubelsky
Pledge of Allegiance by all
First Order of Business: Review of minutes from October 20, 2022. Vice Chairman Wilburn asked if there were any changes, additions or corrections to the minutes. There were none. Roger Reedy made a motion to approve the minutes. Joyce Woodard seconds the motion. All were in favor. Motion Approved.
Second Order of Business: 2022 Year End Reports: Mr. Hyatt starts with the daily call in’s from 2022. He explains to the committee that the Highway Department responded to 906 calls on the north end of the county and 832 on the south end totaling in 1,738 calls for the year. State Aid Projects that are projected for this year is Kerr Hill Road. Approximate cost will be $449,322.70, but Mr. Hyatt wants the commissioners to know that because the index has increased this price will likely increase by almost $100,000.00. State Aid Bridge projects are Booth Chapel Rd over Hulsey Branch. This bridge was bid out and the cost is $531,199.30. This bridge will be built using the High Priority Bridge Replacement Program under the Improved Act. Barry moves on to Surface Treatment Recap. In 2022 Highway Dept. has paved 32.65 miles. Barry explains that the Hwy Dept. has pretty much exhausted these funds. Next is the 911 changes, additions and corrections to the road list. A portion of Hidden Hollow Rd was closed March 21, 2022. The mileage of the road reflected 0.82 miles and now has been updates in the 2023 Road List to reflect the new mileage of 0.60. Additions to the road list are Timber Ridge Drive measuring 0.09 miles and Timber Ridge Lane measuring 0.21 miles.
Third Order of Business: Resolution to perform work for the municipalities: The Highway Department has received resolutions from the City of Minor Hill, Pulaski, Elkton, Ardmore and Lynnville so that the Highway Department may work on their roads inside of city limits at their request. These request will be reimburse any and all materials used in any road repairs, cost of fuel and labor expenses. David Adams makes a motion to approve the resolution. Shelly Goolsby seconds the motion. All are in favor. Motion is approved.
Fourth Order of Business: Resolution for 2023 Road List- Barry mentioned previously what few changes that had been made to the road list. This list is to be voted on by the county commissioners and filed with the County Clerk. Mr. Hyatt reminds everyone that the only roads that the county can work on are what is approved in the road list. David Adams makes a motion to approve the road list. Shelly Goolsby seconds the motion. All are in favor. Motion is approved.
Fifth Order of Business: 2023 Equipment Inventory List- Mr. Hyatt just tells the committee that there is no resolution needed. Every year the county confirms that each and every piece on the list is here and accounted for. It is to be filed with County Clerk. Roger Reedy makes a motion to accept the information, Joyce Woodard seconds the motion. All are in favor. Motion is approved.
Sixth Order of Business: Discussion of Sign Cost. Mr. Hyatt brings up this topic because the county has exhausted their funds dedicated to signage. He tells the committee T.C. A § 55-8-153 states that the county legislative body has the authority to set lower speed limits on county roads. If this is done, the county legislative body is directed to provide funds for the erection of signs and traffic signals as appropriate to warn the public of these lower limits. Mr. Hyatt states that this is something they have not done in the past and try to absorb this in the budget. Because there have been so many signs for speed limits recently our budget is out and he wanted to just make the commissioners aware of this. Joyce Woodard made a motion to send it on to the budget committee. Roger Reedy seconds the motion. All are in favor. Motion is approved.
Seventh Order of Business: Petition for Speed Limit on Shannon Creek Road. The residents of Shannon Creek Rd have petitioned to put a speed limit on the road. Mr. Jerry Chapman handed out a list with points on why Shannon Creek needed a speed limit. The majority of the signatures voted for a 35 MPH speed limit. Mr. Hyatt states that the Highway Department supports 35 MPH. Roger Reedy makes a motion to approve 35 MPH for all of Shannon Creek Rd. Matt Rubelsky seconds the motion. All are in favor. Motion approved.
Eighth Order of Business: Speed Limit Petition for Tatum Road. The petition is asking for 30 MPH but Mr. Hyatt said he will support 35 MPH on this road also. The road can handle 35 MPH. The next speed limit petition is brought up in conjunction with Tatum Rd, Little Dry Creek Rd. Little Dry Creek Rd is petition for 40 MPH. Mr. Hyatt tells the committee that he will support 35 MPH on this road as well. Even though it was requested for 40 MPH. Matt Rubelsky makes a motion to combine Tatum Rd and Little Dry Creek Rd at 35 MPH. Evan Baddour seconds the motion. All are in favor. Motion is approved.
Ninth Order of Business: Budget Amendment. Mr. Hyatt lets the committee know that the Highway is not asking for any new money at this time. The amendment is to move funds within the same categories to clean up. Beth Moore-Sumners addresses the committee and reiterates that this is not any new money it is just a cleanup process to add money into lines that may have been used out already. Matt Rubelsky makes a motion to approve. David Adams seconds the motion. All are in favor. Motion is approved.
Old Business: Mr. Hyatt just wanted to remind everyone on Edward Jett Memorial Bridge. Signs have been paid for and ordered. The family is making a decision on a date to have the dedication. The bridge being dedicated is the bridge leaving Lynnville on Abernathy Rd.
New Business: Bridge replacement on Booth Chapel Rd over Hulsey Branch. The cost to replace this bridge is $531,199.30. This bridge was on the list for our High Priority Bridge Replacement Program (HPBRP). Hopefully the bridge will start sometime in February early March timeframe. Also Mr. Hyatt reminded everyone that Kerr Hill Rd will be repaved this year also.
Mr. Hyatt also discusses the cost of materials again and the increases that have taken place. Mr. Hyatt states that the cost of the county road system has outgrown its revenue. The county has consumed a 50-80% cost increase on most of the materials such as rock, oil, etc. With the cost of resurfacing a county road the turnaround on a road is 40 yrs. Meaning that it will take 40 years to recoup the funds to be able to resurface the road again. Mr. Reedy made a motion to adjourn. Mrs. Goolsby seconds the motion. All are in favor. Meeting is adjourned.
