Franklin County commissioners said Dec. 3 they will pursue stakeholder talks to address a hazardous stretch of Highway 395 after recent fatal collisions.

Commissioner S3 described conversations with state Representative Mark Clicker about drafting legislation to designate the stretch as an "accident zone" and to consider doubling fines in that segment. "Representative Clicker has begun drafting legislation to potentially have that stretch of highway identified as an accident zone and where the traffic fines could double in that stretch of highway," the commissioner said, and asked fellow commissioners to support the effort.

The board discussed convening an emergency stakeholder meeting with legislators and experts; staff will coordinate a meeting next Wednesday at 10 a.m. at the HAPO Center, the administrator said. Members of the public also urged pressure on state and federal transportation authorities, emphasized the need for bypass planning and recommended additional turnouts for slow farm equipment on rural two-lane segments.

Commissioners framed this as a multi-jurisdictional problem involving federal and state highways and said the county will pursue coordination with state lawmakers and regional planning bodies. No formal policy or ordinance was enacted at the meeting; the board set the stakeholder meeting as the next procedural step.