Miller officials question judge’s road plans

Miller County Judge Roy John McNatt ran into a detour regarding his plans to pave as many roads as possible until the end of the year.

McNatt, in a called meeting of the budget committee Tuesday, was prepared to tell the committee his intentions on road repairs and plans to spend $500,000 for the county’s share of road repairs.

The budget committee members questioned his plans and asked for specifics.

Justice of the Peace Jimmy Cowart said McNatt was “vague” in explaining his plans to repair the roads.

McNatt listed five roads he intends to repair, depending on the weather, until he leaves office Dec. 31.

The county roads include CR 28, 26, 8, 25 and 18.

McNatt lost his re-election bid to Tax Collector Cathy Hardin Harrison. She will take over as county judge Jan. 1.

During the road discussions, Harrison said she had checked on roads where some stopped at a locked gate and one road ended at a deer stand.

“A lot of roads need repairs,” Harrison said.

McNatt said his priority is repairing county roads. “We have 900 miles of county roads and that’s what we do—roads,” McNatt said.

Justice of the Peace John Haltom said McNatt’s answer was “weak.”

The committee also questioned the costs.

McNatt said the cost to repair a mile of county road is $30,000.

The committee asked McNatt to bring a prioritized list of roads he wants improved to the Quorum Court meeting Monday.

McNatt said the committee was “micromanaging” his decisions.