While the Mississippi legislature debates a proposed $375 million project to repair the state’s bridges and highways, Lowndes County will have to wait only until late spring to begin its work on improving county roads.
During a light agenda at the Lowndes County Board of Supervisors Monday, the highlight was the county’s road plan for 2016-2020, which was presented by County Road Manager Ronnie Burns and approved by a unanimous 5-0 vote.
Under the plan, 62 county roads will be addressed, including 29 roads that will have overlay, 19 with seal, 11 with DBST (converted from gravel to slag) and three will be milled.
“Depending on the weather, we’ll probably start the work around the first of April,” Burns said, adding the project will cost around $1.5 million,
Asked by District 4 Supervisor Jeff Smith if the continuing decline in oil prices could impact the plan, Burns said there’s a good chance more roads could receive work if oil prices remain low.
“Right now, asphalt is going for about $95 per ton,” Burns said. “I’ve talked to a few other county road managers and some of them are getting it for a little less than that. But the price is coming in around $90 to $95.”
Although much could happen to oil prices between now and 2020 — when the current road plan ends — Burns said continued low oil/asphalt prices could mean the county could do more road work.
“It might allow us to do a little work in each of the districts,” Burns said. “We’ll just have to wait and see.”
In other board business, the board voted 5-0 to appoint Shaun Edwards to the Columbus Lowndes Recreation Authority Board of Directors, replacing Oop Swoope, whose term has ended. The appointment is a joint appointment with the city of Columbus, which notified the supervisors by letter of its approval of Edwards.
Supervisors also unanimously approved the re-appointment of Chris Herring to the Lowndes County Industrial Authority Board of Directors.
The board also unanimously approved the engineering and administrative contracts, both funded through grants, for their commitment to the Steel Dynamics Inc. expansion and the engineering contract for the new county horse park. The board also approved advertising for the site prep and construction of the office facility at the park. The covered pavilion is not a part of Phase 1 of the project. The county is seeking between $1.5 million and $2 million from the legislature this session to fund that part of the project.
Road plan for 2016-2020
OVERLAY
Jemison Rd.
Winchester Dr.
Ridgewood Rd.
Briarwood
Baywood
Holly Hills Rd.
Megan Lane
Windsong Cove
Chestnut Dr.
N. Walnut Dr.
Casey Lane
Dustin Rd.
S. Dustin Rd.
Valleybrook Rd.
Valleydale Rd.
Malco Dr.
Mert Rickman Rd.
Meadowridge Lane
W. Lodge St.
Hines Lane
Pickensville Rd.
Yorkville Road West
Greentree Side Rd.
Bent Oak
Motley Rd.
West Lowndes Dr.
Tom Rose Rd.
Bush St.
RESEAL
Ott Rd.
Westbrook Rd.
Dale Rd.
Grady Hogan
Fernbank Rd.
Sudduth Rd.
Shepherd Rd.
Television Rd.
Perkins Rd.
Pennington Lake Rd.
Joel Dr.
Oak Dr.
Fulgham Dr.
Wright Chapel Rd.
Tolan St.
Lott Field
Ray Harris Rd.
Farmers Market St.
Sumter Rd.
DBST
Burton Dr.
Danner Dr.
Oil Well Rd.
Stateline Rd.
M. McCarter Lane
Winston Rd.
W. Nashville Ferry
N. Hotel St.
Barskdale Rd.
Gilmer Wilburn
Askew Rd.
MILLING
N. Walnut Dr.
Greentree Apt. Rd.
Greentree Side Rd.
Slim Smith is a columnist and feature writer for The Dispatch. His email address is [email protected].
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