Court asked to halt lot sales
RUSSELLVILLE — Franklin County commissioners are seeking a court order to halt future sales of lots for the Lightning Ridge subdivision.
Colbert County property owner Jeff McCollum raised concerns about how the lots are being marketed during the commission’s Feb. 9 work session.
McCollum owns property near the area. He told commissioners the land has been divided into 150 to 160 tracts and promoted as the Lightning Ridge subdivision.
He said most of the property lies in Franklin County with other portions in Colbert County. Access to the property runs along a road known as Troy Thorn Road in Franklin County and Pope Tower Road in Colbert County.
McCollum said the road crosses the county line multiple times, and that timber companies, not the counties, have historically maintained it. He said officials in Colbert County have told him the road does not qualify as a public road, and that subdivision rules there require public road access.
Buyers, he said, have told him the developer described the road as a public road.
“I’m not saying they can’t develop it,” McCollum said. “I’m saying follow the rules.”
McCollum said the property has moved from a family trust to land companies which divided the acreage and began selling tracts. He said he visited a similar project by the same company in another county and saw problems with access, utilities and sanitation.
“It’s going to be a problem,” McCollum said, pointing to the number of lots and the lack of infrastructure.
County Engineer Jason Baggett said Franklin County maintains only a short section of Troy Thorn Road near the Pleasant Site area. He said pavement ends well before the area under discussion, and the road becomes gravel beyond that point.
Baggett said gates have historically restricted access farther up the road.
McCollum said traffic now moves through the area, and the gates no longer stay closed.
Probate Judge Barry Moore said property records show the land transferred in May 2025 and that several lots have already sold with others pending.
Hargett said the property does not meet the legal definition of a subdivision.
“In my opinion, it’s not a subdivision,” Hargett said. “It’s not properly subdivided.”
He said state law prohibits offering lots for sale as part of a subdivision without following required steps. He said the law allows the county to seek injunctive relief to stop the marketing of the lots.
Hargett said the county engineer could issue citations for each lot, but he recommended seeking a court order to halt further sales and address penalties all in one action.
He said none of the county’s subdivision regulations have been followed.
“At best, what’s been offered looks like the very first sketch step,” Hargett said. “They’re marketing it as a full subdivision.”
Red Bay played Cold Springs (29-4) in the regional final on Monday.
