Road Closing Upsets Neighbors

(Burke County, Georgia)  - Fran Watson has lived on Frank Farmer Road in Burke County for 23 years.  She got a big surprise Friday when she found out commissioners voted to close a mile and half of the well-traveled road.  Now if she wants to get to Highway 17 to go to Wadley or Louisville she’ll have go back through Midville about six miles out of the way.

Fran Watson:  “The main thing that’s got us upset is that we weren’t notified that they were going to close it and its going to be a big imposition for us if we cannot use the road to go to 17 because when we go to Louisville or Wadley or whatever that’s the way we go.”

A mile and a half section of Frank Farmer Road will be closed to allow a property owner to install an irrigation system.

Donna Watson:  “We didn’t even have a chance to protest it.”

Watson says the closure will affect her and the dozens of people who use the road as a cut through to get to nearby towns.

Watson:  “The problem with me is I travel this road everyday to go to work. I could go into Midville and go around that way but it’ll be 6 to 7 more miles for me to travel every morning and every evening coming home. That adds up to time and gas.”

County Administrator Merv Waldrop says notices were mailed to property owners whose land was on the part of the road to be closed.  He says state law does not require those not living on that part of the road to be notified.

Waldrop:  “I feel sure the board will hear some of the concerns.  I think they’ve heard from some of the citizens already and have some concerns about this road closing.”

Waldrop says the road is already technically closed and will no longer be maintained by the county.

Fran Watson:  “We’re going to try and see if we can talk to the commissioners and see but we don’t know.”

Waldrop says it’s highly unlikely Commissioners will undo their vote.