While a primary role of the Board of County Commissioners is to serve as the main administrative body for the county, setting policies and making fiscal decisions, our duties also involve road and bridge maintenance and responding to the public. Some of the most common questions we receive on a regular basis include the following:
Q. Can I buy a tinhorn from the county?
A. The county does not sell tinhorns (steel drainage pipes). However, we can buy one for you at county cost if you wish to make a donation to the county for the purchase of such. The tinhorn must be installed on county right-of-way. Typically donations are in the form of a check made out to the road district in which installation takes place. The check and a resolution regarding the donation and its purpose are run through a Board of County Commissioners meeting for approval. This
information is then entered into the meeting minutes as part of public record.
Q. Will the county install the tinhorn for me?
A. Yes, if it is on county right-of-way. You may either purchase a tinhorn on your own and have it delivered to the installation site or we can purchase it for you as described above. In either case, we ask that you mark the area with stakes or paint to indicate exactly where you wish to have the tinhorn placed. We will call OKIE to request a locate identifying all utilities within the work area. A locate can take up to 48 hours. However, actual installation depends upon the weather and work schedule of our road crew.
Q. How do you decide on which roads to pave?
A. Factors considered in regard to paving a road include average daily traffic count, population, safety issues, fatalities and injuries, whether a road is a school bus route and how the road connects to surrounding roadways. Cost is also a major factor, since paving one mile can amount to $100,000 or more. Since District 1 receives an average of approximately $35,000 per month in our maintenance and operations account for the upkeep of 275 miles, we must find other sources of funding for major paving projects.
One such source is the Surface Transportation Program for Urbanized Areas, a program administered by the Association of Central Oklahoma Governments (ACOG). Each year the county faithfully applies for this funding and as a result, has been approved for millions of dollars to
use toward numerous road and bridge improvements. However, many larger entities compete for this funding as well, so it is sometimes hard to get. The Federal Highway Administration classifies roadways as major collectors, minor collectors and local roads, and major collectors are
the ones which qualify for funding. This eliminates a lot of county roadways. Even major collectors may not qualify for funding due to the fierce competition of other entities vying for limited federal monies. Priorities in paving also change constantly because of new development within the county, We are always working to keep pace with new growth.
Q. When can you patch the potholes in my road?
A. Our intent and desire is always to make repairs as soon as possible. We like to please you by responding quickly to your requests and understand the frustration created by driving over or around potholes. We feel it ourselves. As commissioners, that frustration is compounded when we know of the need to make repairs but do not have adequate means to do so. Contrary to popular belief, property taxes DO NOT pay for road repair. Property taxes primarily fund public
education. A small portion goes into the county general fund and some to the county health department, but none toward roads.
Q. If property tax doesn’t pay for road repair, what does?
A. Road maintenance money comes from fuel tax, vehicle tax collections and gross production tax. The Oklahoma Tax Commission sends us varying amounts each month, depending on how much fuel motorists have purchased. The irony is that when people don’t drive because of high
fuel costs, we get less at the county level for roads!
Q. What are other factors regarding road repair?
A. First of all, we must have the money to purchase products to make improvements. The asphalt plant must also be producing. Their production schedule depends upon weather and demand. Most of the time they have what we need, but there are times when material is unavailable. When it rains, we must wait for roadways to dry sufficiently for asphalt to adhere. There are also occasions when
repairs planned for a certain day are delayed due to a variety of events, such as equipment failure, downed stop signs, dead deer in the road, a fallen tree obstructing traffic, utility relocation issues,
wildfire or sick employees. If work is not performed in what you consider a timely fashion, you are always welcome to contact us to follow up on your area of concern and to inquire about the reason for delay.
Q. I understand that most major paving projects in the county are funded through competitive federal programs. Is there a simpler way to get a road paved?
A. One option for paving a road is a cooperative effort between the county and individuals who donate toward a specific road improvement. In the past, the county has performed right-of-way clearing, drainage work and base stabilization. Developers or homeowners have then paid
for the purchase and application of asphalt. Title 60 of Oklahoma Statutes, Section 381 authorizes counties to accept such donations. Section 382 exempts gifts accepted on behalf of the county from any form of tax. The Internal Revenue Code, in Section 170(c)(1), defines a “charitable contribution” as a gift to or for the use of any political subdivision of a state if the gift is made for exclusively
public purposes, which a public road is. Whenever citizens donate to the county, there are procedures the Board of Commissioners follow to ensure transparency. We place an item on the meeting agenda and prepare a resolution stating what the donation is for, the location of the project and the amount donated. This information is kept on file as public record in the county clerk’s office. In the past, citizens have donated to the county for the purchase of tin horns, shale,
gravel and asphalt.
Q. Why does the county maintain some roads and not others?
A. There are private roads and areas within city limits where the county is not allowed to work.
If you have questions about this information or other county issues, feel free to contact me at the District 1 office at 282.3581. More information about District 1 activities is available at www.commissiondistrict1.com.
Mark Sharpton
Commissioner
Logan County District 1
405.282.3581
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