Subdivision regulations top topic for supervisors
The Marshall County Board of Supervisors continues to press hard to enforce regulations on subdivision construction.
The board is protecting the county from having to repair damage to subdivision roads during the construction phase.
Setting bonds for erosion and asphalt paving is the primary concern.
County engineer Larry Britt presented bond recommendations in an August 2 meeting for South Slayden Farms, which wants to add 25 lots. The preexisting road into the subdivision should be bonded to protect it.
Britt recommended $204,250 in bonds that would protect the first mile at the entrance.
The erosion of base and lime was set at a bond value of $25,000, the asphalt overlay at $152,570. A 15 percent add-on would bring the bond recommendation to the mark.
Jeff Williams, an engineer out of Oxford representing the developer, discussed bonding with the board and said bonding is typically for any road damage done during construction.
Britt said lowboys and dozers brought in can cause damage to the road base that has to be corrected prior to addition of the last lift (1.5 to 2 inches) of asphalt.
“What’s it going to cost to redo the road?” District 5 supervisor Ronnie Joe Bennett asked. “I’m not concerned about the two inches of overlay. I’m concerned about sub grade in the road. That’s where our problem comes from. I do not know if this is enough bond money.”
Britt said the road could be ground up and put in (soil) cement.
“You are going to have to mill that one,” said county administrator Larry Hall.
“The county will have to pay for the rest of it if it is torn up,” Bennett said. “Why not put a $400,000 bond? It should be approved by this board or Larry Britt. I’ve been through all this before.”
Williams said he is trying to make it feasible for the county and the owner, and he suggested the repair be postponed until all the work is done. There are 100 acres land-locked on the back side of Slayden Farms, he said.
Bennett said the county has ordinances set up and is fine-tuning them.
“If the county has to repair it, that could be money I could use elsewhere in my district,” Bennett said.
District 3 alderman Keith Taylor said he wants the ordinances evenly applied. “Is this the same issue talked about at the last board meeting?” Taylor asked.
“This is not Slayden Road,” said zoning director Ken Jones. “It is a road within a subdivision. I think the issue is taking care of county roads inside a subdivision.”
He said the road is in an old subdivision already laid out.
Supervisors voted to table the discussion.
Afterward, Hall asked for a signature on a pay request of $5,815 for work done to the outside of the new Justice Court Complex and the board approved the claim.
He also discussed a request from the Mississippi Association of Supervisors to manage funds to the county coming in from the American Rescue Plan.
Two claims from Mills and Mills Architects were approved for painting and a lead and asbestos survey. Claims were approved for $326 for painting and $3,135 for the surveys.
A school bus turnaround was approved at 372 Strickland Road, Byhalia.
Attorney Amanda Smith asked for an executive session to discuss potential litigation.