The Weston Special Road District reported spending about $2.17 million on chip-seal work this year and discussed possible projects for 2027 during its Oct. 8 meeting at the Weston Community Church of the Nazarene.
Rogers Strickland moved to approve the minutes and financials, and Jeff Comer seconded both motions. Strickland also moved to blade Iatan Road once a year; Comer seconded the motion. The motions were approved. Board member Billy Shenkner was absent.
District officials said the chip-seal budget was $2.372 million, leaving about $205,000. They said the work included additional road sections and was still within budget. Monthly bills discussed included $710,000 for paving work and $36,000 for rock and other services. The district also reported a balance of about $5.019 million. September road improvement tax receipts totaled $32,000 after that fund had been depleted.
Officials said work on Spratt and Woodruff roads and remaining sections of Countryside Road was expected to be completed by the end of October. They said the district would begin developing a plan for next year’s projects in November, with a goal of finalizing it in December and seeking bids early next year.
Mount Bethel Road was raised as a possible future project. Residents cited the number of homes and businesses along the road and asked how projects are selected. A district representative said the board would consider factors including the number of mailboxes per mile, as an indicator of traffic, and said Mount Bethel was on the list for consideration. No project was approved.
Residents praised recent road improvements and district crews’ mowing and drainage work. One resident said the chip-seal surface initially felt rough but that feedback from the contractor helped address questions about how it would settle. Officials said district crews prepared roads by clearing ditches and pipes before paving.
During its review of the previous month’s minutes, the district announced actions taken after a closed session: 3% raises for employees effective Oct. 4, an arrangement with the water district to provide water at the road shop for maintenance work, and a one-time $5,000 payment to a volunteer for work on chip-seal roads.
The equipment report included a cracked tractor wheel that district staff repaired. Officials estimated an outside repair could have cost about $4,000. The administrative report confirmed a $5,500 cost for a previously authorized end-of-year study.
The board also discussed a drainage problem at an intersection and the possibility of installing a culvert, but did not identify a final solution. The meeting agenda listed a closed session for personnel and legal matters.
