Updated 1/20/20

The Giles County Highway Committee members will recommend to the commission for a final approval to set a speed limit on Fry Branch Road when they meet Tuesday at 9 a.m.

A petition was signed recently by 34 people to establish a 40 mile per hour speed limit on the road.

Giles County Road Superintendent Barry Hyatt supported the committee move.

Hyatt also gave approval and the committee members voted in favor to name Highway 31 South from Elkton to the Highway 64 Bypass in John D. Minatra’s honor.

During the Vietnam War, Minatra received the Distinguished Service Cross and was inducted into the U.S. Army Ranger Hall of Fame.

The committee also heard from Hyatt that recent bad weather led to county highway department spending a lot of money on repairs.

Hyatt said the department’s asphalt paving account has approximately $240,000 left, which will cover about 10 miles of road.

The highway department has asked for reimbursement of money spent on repairs, but do not know when the money will be reimbursed or how much from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

The county has never approved a wheel tax, but County Commissioner Bill Cary suggested he would support a $25 wheel tax to benefit roads.