Commission leaves county road open

By Katie Nichols (Contact) | Selma Times-Journal

Published Tuesday, June 23, 2009

The Dallas County Commission had to decide whether or not to vacate a county road Monday evening during its meeting.

After comments, the commissioners voted unanimously to keep the road open and free to the public.

Residents on County Road 113 wanted the road to be made private. That way gates could be installed to block unwanted traffic that uses the road as a landfill.

“I filed this on behalf of the residents that live on the road,” Attorney Cartledge W. Blackwell Jr. said. “The reasoning behind making the road private is that people use it as a place to dump trash. It is also used as a lover’s lane of sorts. There is theft on the road and in one cause, there was a vehicle burned on the road.”

Other Safford residents wanted the road to remain open so they could continue to use it as a shortcut and to have it as a possible detour if there was a wreck on Alabama Highway 22.

“There have been whispers of our post office closing for some time now,” Russell Foster, resident of Safford, said. “This road is one way to go to the post office and if it is closed, then I’m afraid that the post office might be closed too.”

Other people opposed to the idea said they used the road a couple of times a week and would like to see the road remain open.

“I use that road to haul hay and to go feed my cows,” Lee Jones said. “I’m friends with [all the people who want the road private], but I respectfully request the commission to keep the road open.”

Residents of County Road 113 went on to say that the matter is more about security for their families than conveyance.

Commissioner Larry Nickles represents the area and it was up to him to make a motion. The other commissioners noted that this would not be an easy choice and that either way someone would be angered.

“This is going to be a tough decision for Larry and the commission put it on him because he knows about the road more than any of us put together,” Commissioner Roy Moore said. “I know you all voted him into office and you should continue to support him despite what happens. He does the best job he can for you.”

Commissioner Curtis Williams reflected on a time he closed a road, which was about seven years ago. He said that after the road was made private, it was made known that there was a cemetery on the road.

“I had people calling me saying they couldn’t go visit their loved one’s graves without having to ask permission,” he said. “I am dead opposed to closing the road because I know how much conflict comes out of this. If we start closing streets today, then when are we going to stop?”

Nickles motioned for the road to remain open and Williams seconded the motion. The vote passed without any opposition.

County Commission Chair Kim Ballard said the residents could try to bring the matter up before the commission again, but a different result was not likely to happen.

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