Resident urges Miami County to fund dust abatement or pave Schweitzer Road after near‑miss

A Miami County resident told the Board of County Commissioners on Sept. 2 that heavy dust from passing traffic on Schweitzer Road nearly caused a fatal crash and urged the county to fund year‑round dust abatement or pave the road.

"It picked up so much dust that the whole car was enveloped in the dust. I mean I couldn't see out the front windshield," said resident Rosemary Begley, recounting an incident she said occurred the day before. Begley told the commission that neighbors paid for dust abatement on part of the mile this summer but the stretch near 311th remains untreated and that 13 houses sit on the segment between 319th and 311th. She characterized the road dust as silica and said residents have health concerns and safety fears with the posted speed limit at 45 mph.

Commissioners responded that the county does not currently have unrestricted funds to pay for full‑mile abatement. "We aren't ignoring those requests. It just is that, the county doesn't have those funds available," Commissioner Bickery said, describing tight road budgets. Commissioner Scruggs said he would follow up with Road & Bridge and suggested starting with a new traffic count to help prioritize work.

The resident provided material to the clerk and referenced a 2022 traffic analysis she said shows increased traffic on the road. She asked for either county‑funded dust abatement for the entire mile or paving to remove the ongoing safety and public‑health risk. The board did not adopt immediate remedies during the meeting but commissioners said they would seek more information from Road & Bridge and return with options.