County Commissioner's Office

County Talk
By
Lamar Paris - Commissioner

Q. Why are you requiring us to pave our driveways? Do you have friends in the paving business?  You are putting in too many regulations for us country folks.  
A. We are not requiring anyone to pave existing driveways.  The only reason we are requiring new driveways to have a 25’ paved entrance is to ensure it is constructed properly, sloping away from the county road in order to keep water and debris out of the county roads. This is one of those common sense items that are caused because of the number of improperly paved and or graded entrances to county roads. During the winter months, having extra runoff onto county roads can be a tremendous safety issue creating hazardous icing conditions, as well as coming around a curve and facing a lot of loose gravel washed into the highway.

We are only requiring 25’ to be paved so that the homeowner has the option of either paving it with asphalt, or using concrete, or using decorative brick pavers.

Q.  Why have you added livestock, horses and cows to the animal control ordinance?
A.  Our current animal control ordinance does not include livestock.  We have had several instances of mistreatment and starvation of horses and some people having such poor fences that their livestock was continually getting out and into county roads and causing a safety hazard.  This amendment simply allows animal control to enforce abuses related to livestock.  If you are taking care of your animals, this will not affect you. This amendment was made at the request of animal control.

Q. We live just out of town on the Murphy Highway and a surveyor told us that they were surveying a 500’ wide strip along the highway, and that the state would be buying our houses for a four lane highway. Is that true?
A. Surveying - true- r/w - no.  According to the Georgia Department of Transportation, they have contracted with an engineering firm to survey a possible road widening of 19/129N in the distant future.  However, at this time, they have no idea of the exact location, much less exactly what property would be necessary for right of way. That is why they survey all property adjacent or near the present highway.   Further, they are not sure that federal funds would be available for the project once it is engineered.  It is not on their current 6 year work project, so if it is ever built, it would be several years away.  Surveyors on these road projects sometimes exaggerate their knowledge of the project or the home owner can misunderstand the explanation from the surveyor.

Q. We live off 19/129 N and it is a dangerous road with lots of accidents and needs to be four laned.  Why does the state not see our problem and widen this road?
A. The state does realize there is a problem just as they do in and around Atlanta.  The problem is that GDOT does not have enough money to build all the roads that need to be built in Georgia.  Also, the problem with building new roads is the same problem we have at the county level, most people realize we need road improvements as long as it is not in their area – and that is understandable.

This survey is the first step in a very long process to determine if this project can be done within a reasonable budget and if hurtles such as TVA lake crossings and some large stream crossings can be overcome.

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