BOC to vote on whether to close Pace Road

“I’ve had some problems – off and on - with people coming up Pace Road,” he said. “Cars go up to the water tank and park. I’ve had my house broken into a couple years ago. Someone also stripped all the wire out of my chicken houses.”

Murphy also noted that the road divides his and his neighbor, Jarvis Mealor’s property.

He explained that the division of his farmland restricts the movement of his cattle and often forces him to have to herd them across the road for grazing.

Murphy suggested that he would install a gate on the road and provide the county with keys for access.

“I’d have no problem, - and I know the other property owner, Mr. Mealor agrees – with putting a gate up on either side of the road and giving the county keys as you see fit,” said Murphy. “I think it would benefit the county by not having to pay to maintain that road. It would give you more access and security to the water tank.”

The council raised some concerns about county utility employees being able to read meters as well as livestock escaping if the gates were left open.

“I can understand putting gates up, but what I don’t want to do is isolate any residents,” said county commissioner Charles Turk. “If we put gates in at the point where there are no meters and residents, I don’t really have a problem with it.”
Banks County utility director Steve Reece spoke on his concerns with closing the road.

“I’m not totally against closing it, but I have some major concerns if it is gated,” said Reece. “I am not going to take the time to close the gates behind me if there is an emergency. We are going to have to issue out hundreds of keys.”

Reece pointed out that he and other utility employees must have constant access to the water tank via Caudell Road.
The board of commissioners will put the issue to a vote at their next regular scheduled meeting on Oct. 9, at 6:30 p.m.