Commission hears road concerns, discusses other matters
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Kevin Forsyth of District 5 presented photos in a slideshow presentation to the County Commission regarding poor road conditions. Photo submitted
By Christa Jennings
Senior Staff Writer
During an hour-and-a-half long meeting earlier this month, the County Commission primarily had discussion and only took action on two new business items.
A chunk of the meeting was spent hearing a presentation regarding road conditions and timbering in District 5, with nearly an hour of the meeting spent on that topic. Kevin Forsyth, who has owned a home on Morgan Farm Lane in the northwest area of the county since 2005, addressed the commission regarding the road issues.
Forsyth included a slideshow of photos of the road conditions, timbering areas and more during his presentation.
Forsyth said when they bought the house along Peckerwood Creek the creek was 12 feet deep and about 35 feet across. He said there were large snapping turtles, as well as stripe and largemouth bass, and in discussing the fishing opportunities he said that at the time there was a minimum of 6 feet depth. However, he said that is no longer the case.
He also mentioned that after purchasing the house they noticed road maintenance on the county dirt roads of Community Lane, White Oak Road and Crain Lane is not regular. He said at the time they could call County Engineer Tad Eason and get a response, which he said validated citizen input being helpful, even if the road conditions were not deemed adequate.
Forsyth said that was the way it had been “up until a couple of years ago.” He said things then took a turn for the worse with Eason no longer responding to texts, calls, or emails.
He added that the Highway Department does not have voicemail, and when they could get someone and leave a message for Eason, he would not call back. Forsyth also said that many of his friends and neighbors were having the same issue.
In further discussion during his presentation, Forsyth said that he wants the commission to fix this problem right away.
“I heard one of my neighbors recently say, ‘I am going to quit paying taxes since we don’t receive anything – policing, horrible roads, no accountability,’” Forsyth said. “I would tend to agree.”
Forsyth went on to ask about funds budgeted for road repairs this year and in the future, wondering if the funding allocated is adequate to meet the budget submission for the work. He further asked if there is a 10-year rolling road repair, replacement and new road plan in place and asked about the process for reporting road damage issues, potholes and similar issues.
Forsyth also asked if the commission is willing to make these things happen, and if so what the plan is. He went on to say, “Obviously the current system is not working and has not need for years, regardless of the reasons, and the commission has a clear responsibility to correct the problem.”
Forsyth also mentioned the “other big issues” of timberlands and timbering companies, saying that “timbering is out of control” and that more than “80% of the land in Coosa County is owned by timber companies.”
Some of the damages from timbering he mentioned included property values decreasing when the roads are destroyed, roads being “a disaster” and negatively affecting permanent and weekend residents who have investments in their properties, aesthetics, roads flooding because of no maintenance during the process and after the process, extensive destruction, and more.
In further discussion, Forsyth said that the county process for road repairs, maintenance and paving “is not working and has not been working for dozens of years” and that the “county management oversight appears to be nonexistent and needs to be changed.”
He added that a committee of citizens and at least one commissioner is needed in order to make this happen and would be “the best way to make positive change.”
Forsyth also said that the county process for overseeing the activity of timbering companies is “nonexistent” and needs to change.
During discussion, Commission Chair Bertha K. McElrath said that it was a good presentation for Rep. Ben Robbins regarding the timber companies and Alabama Power, with Forsyth mentioning in his presentation about flooding damage and Alabama Power being negligent. Therefore, McElrath said that she would recommend Forsyth talk to Robbins, as well, to see what can be done at the state level to help address those issues.
District 5 County Commissioner Lamar Daugherty said that he had spoken with Forsyth many times and that unfortunately the county is limited with what it can do. However, echoing McElrath’s sentiments, he said it would be a good presentation to show the state legislature.
In further discussion, District 4 County Commissioner Ronnie Joiner said that Engineer Eason is not negligent in his duties. He told Forsyth there is a chain of command and that residents need to call their respective commissioners and that they will then call Eason to pass along those messages and concerns.
In discussion, Eason mentioned that the Highway Department receives nothing from ad valorem or sales taxes, with the department only receiving funds from the old and new gas tax for roads. He added that the county has 600 miles of roads, but that the county budget only allows about 6 miles of road to be repaired each year, with it costing approximately $150,000 per mile of road.
He also mentioned the cost of materials increasing and how the funds do not go as far as they once did.
In ongoing discussion, Forsyth said that he calls the Highway Department, but that often the calls are not answered and mentioned again about the department not having voicemail so citizens can leave messages. He said that maybe one out of 10 times someone answers the call.
Eason said that when someone contacts the office it is written down, adding that his secretary is there and that she should answer and does answer. However, Forsyth said “that communication process is not working.”
In further discussion regarding previous work done on County Road 99, Eason recalled that he told Forsyth that it was going to take time because of storms that had gone through the area.
“I believe you bypassed me and went to the state, and from that point on there’s no need for you to talk to me,” Eason said. “You can just go on to the state.”
Forsyth responded, “I haven’t talked to the state anything about a road.”
“That’s not what they called and told me,” Eason said. “So from that point, I’ll talk to [three representatives], but there’s no need in me talking with you if you’re going to bypass me and go to the state. That’s why I haven’t answered your calls.”
“That’s interesting,” Forsyth said.
In ongoing discussion, another citizen mentioned that it is getting to the point they cannot access their property. She further said that during times of heavy rain it prevents her from getting in and out of her road, adding that she recently missed three days of work because of it.
Chair McElrath said that Eason will address those concerns and do what he can as soon as he can. She told citizens if nothing is done within the next month to contact the commission and let them know.
In other business, the commission heard from Sheila Ward with the Coosa County Historical Society discussing a possibility of the society moving into the rock building that is being renovated for the Extension Office and from Sheriff Michael Howell regarding a flooding issue in his office, with no action taken on either matter.
The commission also heard from EMA Director Sheldon Hutcherson providing an overview of the Coosa County Association of Scenic Waterways Chapter of the Alabama Scenic River Trail. Hutcherson said he was there to ask for support, but not money, and mentioned they hope to bring the Hatchet Creek float back this year.
Also in new business, the commission unanimously approved participating in the GIS program provided by the secretary of state and the county levies for alcohol licensing with no changes from the prior year.
The next regularly scheduled monthly meeting of the Coosa County Commission will be held at 9 a.m. May 9.
