Photo by Alison James
Rep. Johnny Mack Morrow led Monday’s meeting, giving several representatives, including NACOLG’s Keith Jones, the chance to speak and ask questions.

A meeting at Hackleburg City Hall Monday brought together Bear Creek Development Authority representatives, local mayors or their representatives and Norfolk Southern resident Vice President Elizabeth Lawlor, along with Rep. Johnny Mack Morrow, to discuss turning the neglected railroad from Red Bay to Haleyville into a recreational path that could be enjoyed by everyone from walkers and bikers to those on horseback.

Morrow proposed the BCDA as a potential manager for the project and property. About 30 miles of abandoned rail property lies between Red Bay and Haleyville to potentially become a trail.

“Trails are becoming huge all over America,” Morrow pointed out. He sees the opportunity as a chance to assist economic development in the area. “It’s going to require a lot of people pulling together.”

Lawlor presented a few key facts and challenges at the Monday meeting. To begin with, any agency that wants to purchase the property – such as the BCDA, if it so decides – will need to have it appraised, at the agency’s expense. “The most recent appraisal we have … is dated 2011,” Lawlor said. “Norfolk Southern requires an appraisal within three years.”

Lawlor also emphasized that a purchasing organization must be approved by Rails to Trails as being an authorized entity, meeting federal restrictions and guidelines.

BCDA Chairperson Tricia Montgomery said she was more than willing to present the proposal to the BCDA, probably during a meeting in April, at Morrow’s request.

Haleyville, Hackleburg, Hodges, Vina and Red Bay would all potentially be affected by the proposed trail. Representatives from each of the municipalities that would be affected were given the opportunity to speak. Red Bay and Vina input expressed a favorable opinion of the project; Hodges sent no representative; while Haleyville and Hackleburg representatives both expressed that they were present to find out more.

Feedback was not wholly positive at the preliminary meeting, however.

“Are you going to talk to any of the homeowners that you’re interrupting their lives going through the middle of their properties?” challenged Larry Vaughn of Hackleburg.

“We’re not at the point, sir,” Morrow responded. “We don’t even know if anyone is going to take this on as a project. I can’t speculate on what’s going to happen.”

Following the initial adjournment of the meeting, another attendee spoke up to voice similar concerns.

“That railroad goes through property I’ve got leased,” said the opponent, who identified himself as James Garrard. “and before it goes any further, I want y’all to know, all of you concerned whoever you are, that we do not want a horse trail going through our property.”

As Morrow reiterated the adjournment and other attendees rose to leave, Garrard began to raise his voice in opposition. “Is that the way it’s going to go?” he shouted. “I’ll tell you right now, we’ll fight it. I can tell you, it will be fought, Mr. Morrow. I don’t want no damned horse trail though my property.

“Y’all have got a fight on your hands.”