Carroll County Board of Supervisors President Jim Neill said he, along with Sheriff Clint Walker and others, have been in contact with the Mississippi Department of Transportation to see if someone could maintain state highways in Carroll County – but to no avail.
So, they decided to somewhat take matters into their own hands. Neill said he along with Supervisor Josh Hurst have decided to side cut the sides of Mississippi Highway 17 North and Mississippi Highway 35.
“We’re not working their roads or anything. We’re not doing that. I’m just tired of seeing it,” Neill said. “From Holmes County, it’s so nice. You can see an eighth of a mile, but when you get to Carroll County, it looks totally different.”
Neill said trees are overgrown on Highway 17, there are logs in the middle of the road, and he’s concerned about safety.
“You know, it’s just not safe. When you’re driving up the road and your kid says ‘Dad, don’t hit that log,’” Neill said.
It’s not the first time that supervisors have complained about the conditions of the roads or the first time they’ve attempted to get in touch with John Caldwell or anyone with the Mississippi Department of Transportation about the situation.
Neill said the Cotesworth executive board put up signs directing people to the home on Highway 17 North, but because the grass is so overgrown, the signs cannot be seen by motorists.
“So, I got my sidecutter, and I cut it. I don’t know if it’s right or wrong. But, it’s done,” he said.
Hurst said his issue isn’t trees, it’s the fact that the grass is overgrown on the sides of Highway 35.
“I cut all the way from the Grenada County line to almost to Carrollton. My thing is with the grass that tall, a critter might come out and a person won’t see it until they hit it,” Hurst said.
The board also:
• Approved reimbursement for Casey Carpenter, Monica Jones, Andrea Trinkler, Wilton Neal, Tammy Inmon and Lamonica Murphy to attend their respective conferences and classes.
• Approved a bid from Bobby Kitchens in the amount of $2,000 for a semi lowbed trailer, surplus from Beat 3.
• Approved a partial road closure on Carroll County Road 43.
