Board hears urgent concerns about Harris Avenue shoulders, considers options to limit heavy truck damage

Board members described progressive shoulder failure and potholing on Harris Avenue where truck turning maneuvers for the pellet mill have been stressing the pavement and shoulders. Members said school buses use the same route and that recent damage raises a near-term safety concern as the school year approaches.

Discussion covered enforcement and mitigation options: requiring bonds or road-use agreements for heavy commercial users, rerouting truck traffic, asking the county to accelerate paving plans, and inspecting the area for short-term fixes. No formal motion to impose a bond or reroute traffic was passed; staff committed to follow up with county representatives and contractors to determine timing and immediate safety measures. ‘‘If school starts and buses are coming through, we’ve got to do something in a hurry,’’ a board member said during the discussion.