Roads, Roads, and More Roads

By PJ Martin

Editor

The Herald-News

 

The Metcalfe County Fiscal Court held its regular meeting on Thursday, February 26^th, with the following in attendance: Judge/Executive Larry Wilson, Magistrates Ronnie Miller, Daniel Bragg, Harvey Hawkins, and Kevin Crain, County Attorney Sharon Howard, and Treasurer/Fiscal Court Clerk Page Edwards.

Also in attendance were Financial Officer Connie Taylor, Occupational Tax/ABC Admin. Lorrie Gilpin, Jailer Randall Shive, Solid Waste Coordinator Kim Jandt, and Herald-News editor PJ Martin.

Judge Wilson declared a quorum present, and the agenda was adopted after motions by Miller and Hawkins.

The minutes from the February 12^th regular meeting were approved after motions were made by Bragg and Crain. Next were the minutes from the special-called meeting on February 16^th, which were approved after motions by Hawkins and Miller.

 

Burdette Road

Metcalfe resident Rick Page was present to discuss Burdette Road with the court. Lela Brewster and a gentleman named Ray were there also. “I’m just here, really, to bring that road to the court’s attention to get some relief for some of the folks.”

It was explained that the road once had a county road sign at each end, and it disappeared. The sign was later found in the ditch by Ms. Brewster. However, the road has never been on the county road list, according to past record searches.

Page stated, “It’s probably hundreds of parcels back down through there, but on that first stretch there, within that first quarter mile, they own property. And you know, after that ice storm, I know there’s one private residence back in there, where the first y is. We loaded chainsaws day of the ice storm went down there to check on their property. And while we were down in there, there was a gal come out of there with a carload of children trying to navigate that road in that ice and snow. So, there are private residences down in there.”

Judge Wilson had driven to the road the prior day, “It’s in a terrible shape,” adding that the Y is as far as the county could probably go (estimated at a quarter of a mile).

The state highway or the legislature directed that county roads could be adopted through a certain process.

Bragg explained how to get a road on the county maintenance list. The property owners would need to agree to and sign road right of ways before it could be considered. It also requires two disinterested individuals to check the road.

Judge Wilson stated, “Then we can see what we can do. I can’t promise you a thing, but we’ll make every effort to try to figure out a way to make it work.”

 

Copas Ridge Road

This was followed by a discussion about Copas Ridge Road. Resident Tessa Stovall, who initially brought the road to the courts’ attention in July of 2025, was present. The right of way deed are all signed and ready except for four owners who live out of state.

“Sharon came to me just before the meeting started, and confessed she had dropped the ball to some extent, to some extent,” said Judge Wilson.

Stovall explained, “I don’t mean no disrespect to anybody in here. I’m just here to speak for my little community back here. Before we came to you guys, we put 1000’s of dollars into that road too… That road was probably in the best shape it’s been in the last 25 years. We did that in hopes of it being the step that pushed us forward to get it taken over by county… The road is now in the worst condition it’s been in probably at least the last 10 years due to we’re in nine months of waiting on this, and I completely understand there are checkpoints and things that have to be done… And so now what? What do I do here?” asked Tessa.

It was stated that SCRTC came in and laid fiber optic cable down the middle of the road and destroyed the compacted gravel base that residents were driving on, making it nearly impossible when it’s wet. Bragg said he would try to talk to someone there about fixing what was done.

It was decided that Howard would attempt to contact the other property owners to get their right-of-way approval, but in the meantime, she is researching what the laws say about finishing the road without the other right-of-way deeds.

“Whatever we can do to move forward… the four that haven’t signed, look up and see where they’re located,” said Judge Wilson.

They were in agreement that the road needs to be finished so the families can travel it safely, and if need be, repair the parts that have signed right-of-ways.

 

Subtle-Garrett Creed Road

The request to add 0.37 miles of the Subtle-Garrett Creed Road to the county road list was discussed. Cumberland County had been picking it up with their roads, but can no longer do that. The motion to maintain the 0.37 miles of the road was made by Miller, seconded by Bragg, and approved.

Next was Highway Plan item #03-8706.1 Resolution – US 68 Greensburg Road. Miller pointed out that this had already been approved months earlier. Judge Wilson agreed, but said the transportation office said they never received it, so it would need to be repeated. The motions were made by Crain and Hawkins, then approved.

The first reading of the Amended Ordinance # 830-17-299 – Establishing a Permit Process for the Licensing of Solid Waste Collectors and Haulers.

After a lot of discussion, it was decided to table the first reading until the next meeting so more information can be gathered.

It was brought to Judge Wilson’s attention by county clerk Shannon Fields that there were leaks where the county records are stored that need to be addressed. Howard, who owns the storage location, stated that she had already called someone to repair it as soon as possible.

The budget transfer was approved by motions from Miller and Hawkins.

Interfund transfers, along with the ABC Fund transfer, were approved after motions by Bragg and Miller.

The claims were discussed briefly and then approved with motions by Bragg and Hawkins.

With no other items, the meeting was adjourned.

The next meeting is scheduled for Thursday, March 12, at 9:00 a.m.