BRYAN COUNTY (KXII) – “I want to change the roads and the way we maintain our roads,” Boone said. “But we have to have the funds to do that, and the revenue stream just isn’t there right now.”

Making change. A tough campaign to sustain once Justin Boone is sworn in Jan. 2 as Bryan County Commissioner District 2. He says county leaders needed the financial support of residents.

“With growth comes more road tax and fuel tax money, but it also comes with more traffic and more maintenance on our roads,” Boone said.

The price of materials needed for maintenance also increases.

“The price of our goods is going up, our rock, our diesel, our equipment, everything,” Boone said. “It’s tremendously bigger than it was in the past and it’s hard to stay afloat.

Boone says the way forward will be a lot like “Band-Aid” work. There’s already money for county roads and public safety, but not enough to make the lasting changes county residents are concerned about. Boone says that also rings true for Bryan County Sheriff Johnny Christian.

“He has a bigger headache than I do in that area,” Boone said. “But he doesn’t have enough employees and deputies to cover when we have calls. It’s hard for them to get there simply because they’re short-handed and unmanned.”

Boone says he won’t let the failed proposals hold the county back. In the meantime, he will seek “outside sources of revenue” until each commissioner sits down to form a new plan.

“We’re working with our Indian tribes, the Choctaws and Chickasaws that are in our district to try to work with them and see if there’s anything we can’t work with and improve some of these roads that we want to grow.”

For the future of Bryan County’s safety.

“We’re going to move forward with what we need to work on and do the best job we can for everyone in Bryan County.”

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