During a recent government meeting, residents voiced their concerns regarding the deteriorating condition of county roads, particularly St. Joe Road, which has not been repaved in over two decades. A local resident, who identified as a lifelong county inhabitant, expressed frustration over the worsening state of the roads, attributing the decline to insufficient maintenance and the need for increased funding, potentially through higher gas taxes.

The resident highlighted specific issues, including the prolonged delay in fixing a problematic intersection at Meridian and St. Joe Road, which has been in disrepair since the 1920s. The speaker emphasized the urgency for improvements, especially in light of the county's rapid growth.

In response, a commissioner acknowledged the concerns and outlined a new funding strategy for road maintenance. The commission has recently approved a shift from a previous funding model to a more sustainable approach for paving roads. Under the new plan, every homesteaded property in the county will incur an annual charge of approximately $85 to $100, replacing the previous system that had been in place since the mid-20th century. This change aims to address the backlog of road repairs and ensure better maintenance moving forward.

The commissioner noted that while cities have separate funding mechanisms, the new county-wide approach is designed to equitably distribute the costs of road improvements among residents, particularly in areas that have historically been underserved. The meeting underscored the community's growing frustration with infrastructure issues and the government's commitment to addressing these challenges through revised funding strategies.