The rail crossing in Tennille continues to be an issue for Pike County commissioners.

At the Pike County Commission’s Monday night meeting, County Engineer Derrick Donaldson said a newly installed flashing caution light at the railroad crossing was stolen. 

Donaldson said the rail crossing is a dangerous intersection and some wrecks there have been catastrophic. He said most of the accidents involved garbage trucks or transfer trucks.

The commission looked into placing crossing rails at the intersection, but the rails would have cost more than $300,000. Commission Chairman Chad Copeland said the county didn’t have the budget for that project. 

Donaldson said to improve safety at the intersection, rumble strips had been placed leading into the intersection to slow down traffic. He said those didn’t work, so the thickness of the rumble strips was increased. 

He also said a yield sign had been replaced with a stop sign and flashing caution signs had also been added to the intersection. Donaldson said the next step was to try a LED stop sign, which has a higher degree of visibility. Copeland also suggested Donaldson reach out to the Pike County Sheriff’s Office to see what enforcement options might be available. 

In other business:

Donaldson said the county had been approved for a $400,000 Rural Logging Efficiency Grant to improve dirt roads. He said the county would have to match $400,000 for the grant. Donaldson said he would put together several options for how the commission could pay for the match and present that package to the commission in an upcoming meeting. 

Donaldson also said only seven timber bridges remained in the county. He said the county had 25 timber bridges four years ago, so they were making progress in replacing all the timber bridges. 

• The commission also approved an off premises beer and wine license for Home Oil Company, Inc. 
• The commission also approved the loan of voting tabulation machines to the City of Brundidge for municipal elections. 
• The commission also approved amendments to the budget based on the actual revenue instead of projected revenue for the Gas Tax Fund and Sales Tax Fund.