“It’s definitely been a challenge,” said Washington County Public Works Supervisor Gary Waller during the Tuesday, October 6 Board of Commissioners’ workshop when discussing the road issues caused by Hurricane Sally.
Waller reported that since the storm, the Road Department has scraped over 90 roads in the County. In addition, numerous roads have been reopened once necessary repairs were made. While not all roads have been repaired or reopened, the County’s Road Department is continuing to work diligently on those roads.
“We appreciate the public’s patience,” said Waller.
County Administrator Dustin Peebles echoed Waller’s remarks, saying that some roads require substantial repairs. Information from engineers was provided to the County Commissioners concerning those roads.
“There’s a lot of work that’s going to have to be done,” said County Administrator Peebles. He added, “Some of the ones we got open, we’re going to have to go back in and replace pipes.”
Public Works Supervisor Waller stated that the goal, at this point, is to get the roads passable.
County Administrator Peebles reported that the Georgia Department of Transportation’s damage assessment is an estimated $1.75 million.
“That doesn’t include everything, so our estimate is going to be more than that,” said County Administrator Peebles.
It was noted during the workshop that the Governor did not declare Washington County a disaster area following the storm.
“I don’t see how he didn’t declare us a disaster area with the roads that we had messed up,” said Chairman Horace Daniel.
County Administrator Peebles stated that Washington County was the only county that received nearly one foot of rainfall and sustained the extensive damage from the storm.
County Commissioners will hear from Phillip Stenfors regarding Animal Control at their Thursday, October 8 meeting. They will also hear from Conni Fennell-Burley concerning Archway.
The Washington County Commissioners’ meeting is scheduled for Thursday, October 8 at 9 a.m.