April 3, 2025, Camden County Commission meeting at 10:00 a.m.

I attended the April 3, 2025, Camden County Commission meeting at 10:00 a.m.

Commissioners Skelton and Dougan were present.

The first agenda item was “Planning and Zoning Board Appointment – Don Campbell.”

The Commission unanimously appointed Don Campbell to the Planning and Zoning Commission.

The second agenda item was “Discussion of Business Park Road – Truck Traffic.”

About a dozen residents from the area around Business Park Road were at the meeting. Their main complaint was regarding the truck traffic coming from the Capital quarry in Linn Creek. The road is a narrow gravel road and is not suitable for heavy truck traffic. They have spoken to the manager at the Capital quarry and the quarry did create a policy that discouraged trucks from turning right and traveling eastbound on Business Park Road when they exited the quarry. Unfortunately, the quarry isn’t able to enforce that policy and it’s not unusual for trucks to ignore the signs and drive east along the gravel road.

According to the residents, the trucks have been tearing up the surface of the roadway. One truck knocked down an electric pole and another recently drove off the roadway and had to be pulled out by a wrecker. This truck traffic has made the residential portion of Business Park Road dangerous to drive and impossible to walk along.

Presiding Commissioner Skelton wondered if it might be possible to find a compromise? Perhaps restricting 18-wheelers from using the eastern half of the road? Both he and Commissioner Dougan seemed to be very familiar with the road in question. He promised the Commission would research the statutes and see what their options were.

There were some questions about why the truck drivers would take such a narrow road in the first place, but people surmised that they’re using it as a shortcut to shave a few minutes off their drive for deliveries to the east side of the county.

The locals were pretty adamant that it would be be best if the use of the road east of the quarry was closed to all through-trucking and limited to local deliveries only.

Presiding Commissioner Skelton proposed that the Commission advertise another meeting on this matter and contact local business and trucking companies to get their input.

The final agenda item was “Bid Opening – 250403 Campus Concrete Projects.”

There was a single bid from Burns Concrete Designs. Seven companies were contacted regarding this bid.

The bid was for $32,000 and would include two sets of stairs, a ramp, and a pad for a dumpster.

The Commission unanimously accepted this bid.

And that was that.