Commissioners approve mower purchase, add Little Road to mill list and keep Zion Road width; grant CDL experience credit
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Summary
The Hart County Board of Commissioners approved the purchase of a new mower on staff recommendation (4-1), added Little Road to a mill-and-fill list (5-0), directed staff to keep Zion Road's current paving width while addressing culvert drainage before resurfacing (5-0), and approved eight years' credit for a new road-department hire (5-0).
The Hart County Board of Commissioners approved multiple road-related actions, including a contested mower purchase, an addition to the mill-and-fill list and a decision on Zion Road drainage and paving, and approved experience credit for a newly hired CDL driver.
Commissioners voted 4-1 to buy a John Deere lawnmower on the recommendation of maintenance staff member Jim Owens; Commissioner Bennett made the motion and Commissioner Brown seconded it. One commissioner expressed a preference for an Exmark brand after encouraging input from local contractors.
Separately, the board approved on second reading adding Little Road to the county's mill-and-fill list. The motion to add Little Road passed 5-0 (motion by Mr. Dorsey; second by Mr. Brown).
The board held an extended discussion about Zion (CME) Church Road after a staff inspection raised concerns about drainage and the proximity of utility lines and culverts to the pavement edge. Commissioners and staff discussed risks that widening the pavement now could require future utility digs in the new pavement if buried utilities or taps sit close to the current edge. A motion passed 5-0 to keep the current pavement width for the upcoming resurfacing, while directing staff to try to move three or four culverts back from the pavement edge and to replace rotten culvert structures before resurfacing where feasible.
On personnel matters, the board approved giving new road-department hire Russell Adams eight years of experience credit for pay/step purposes; that request was approved 5-0.
During debate over the mower purchase, at least one commissioner told the board that multiple local grass-cutting contractors said they preferred Exmark equipment; commissioners acknowledged both contractors' input and Jim Owens's recommendation for John Deere before taking the 4-1 vote. No capital budget increase was adopted; the board voted to purchase at the recommended dealer price.
Vote outcomes recorded in the meeting: mower purchase approved 4-1; Little Road second reading approved 5-0; Zion Road paving direction approved 5-0; experience-credit request for Russell Adams approved 5-0.