County hears road quarrel

By Alison James
alison.james@fct.wpengine.com

A gravel road is causing contention in Phil Campbell.
Phil Campbell resident Billy Jones addressed the county commission Monday about Sandusky Road, which he said has been used by partying teenagers and people dumping trash. He was pleased to come home one day and find the road had been closed but wanted to know why it had since been reopened.
“I appreciate whoever did get it closed,” Jones said. “It’s not even a road; it’s a cowpath. It’s not worth nothing … I thought it was said and done. I didn’t know this was opening back up.”
Commissioner Wyman Pounders explained that the road had been temporarily barricaded when it was discovered to be impassable because of a nearby pond swelling over it.
“The signs that were put up had nothing to do with you or any of your neighbors,” Pounders said.
But Jones wasn’t the only Phil Campbell resident who had something to say about Sandusky Road at Monday’s meeting.
Janice Winstead also owns property on Sandusky Road. She said that while she doesn’t care whether the road is opened or closed, she wants one thing to be perfectly clear, and that is: what portion of the property belongs to her.
“I don’t care one way or another whether it’s closed, but I want my property, which is going to go right in front of (Jones’) front door, if it does close,” Winstead said. What it amounts to is, there is a portion of the road that would revert 100 percent to Winstead, eliminating access for Jones.
The road is a road by prescription – that is, it has been used by so many for so long, it naturally fell under county jurisdiction. However, as it is largely inaccessible by county equipment, it is an impractical road because the county is unable to upkeep it. Pounders explained that, in order for the road to be closed, it would have to be formally vacated by the county, which requires proper procedure of published notice, holding a public hearing and being voted on by the commission.
Also at the county commission meeting, the commission:
– approved the hire of a temporary revenue commission employee
– accepted resignations in the sheriff’s office from Dennis Morgan and Craig Bullion
– approved franchise extension agreements with Marcus Cable and Charter Communication
– adopted a resolution for the sales tax renewal vote
– agreed to continue contract with Tatum for fuel purchases for fiscal year 2015
– approved a lease agreement for Carrol Street office building with certain contingencies
– opened the bid for janitorial supplies