On July 15, things became a little tense and tempers were close to erupting at the Marshall County Board of Commissioner’s Meeting. When Don “Salty” Melton reached the agenda item that allows a discussion “concerning any matter not known or which could not have been reasonably foreseen prior to the time of posting this agenda,” a citizen brought his concerns to the board.
Michael and Julane Taylor live in the Caney Creek/Soldier Creek subdivision and have concerns about the roads in the aforementioned subdivision.
“I understand there is a lot of traffic and it’s never going to stop,” Taylor said. “There are some potholes on our roads that are seven to twelve inches deep and twenty feet long.”
He also noted the road itself has deteriorated to a mere six feet wide, making it impossible for firetrucks to go down that road, and that puts all the community members in danger.
Taylor said Buckeye Street is in major disrepair. Chris Duroy is the District Three Commissioner, which is the affected area in question and said Buckeye has been a thorn in their side for awhile. “Buckeye has utility problems. There is a water line running down the side of the road.”
Duroy also said that the Vye Communication poles are in the road easement, when they should not be. “I want to knock them all down,” said Duroy.
Even though eliminating the poles would make it easier to fix the roads, it would leave the subdivision without any digital communication.
Taylor said that Magnolia Drive has a few massive potholes, and Soldier Creek Road is difficult to maneuver. “I drive a small car, not a mini car by any stretch of the imagination,” Taylor said. “I have to cross the yellow line to keep from dragging bottom.”
Duroy corrected Taylor by informing him the only road with a yellow line is the main road. Taylor said he was using the term metaphorically. “I meant the middle of the road where a yellow line usually is.”
Taylor then said he and his community pay the highest property tax in Marshall County and with the multimillion dollar homes being built in the community, the roads should be decent. “As a county, we need to do a little better.”
Duroy informed Taylor that they do not receive any of the tax money. “It’s a time and a money issue,” Duroy said. “I have 204 miles of road to keep up with, and almost 50 subdivisions.”
He said the flood rains in 2015 damaged all the roads in his district, and he is working through a list repairing what he can. He then inquired why Taylor thought they should receive special treatment. “Why should I move y’all up? What makes y’all more important than Washita Point and others?”
“It makes us less important,” Taylor replied. Duroy then advised Taylor that since the rains in 2015, their subdivision has received work.
Taylor asked for clarification on the order of the subdivisions on Duroy’s list. “So, let me understand this, I would rather repair the road in Washita Point, where there is no growth and people are moving out and leaving houses vacant than in Soldier and Caney Creek where they’re building multi-million dollar houses?”
Duroy interjected and retorted that there is growth in Washita Point. To which Taylor asked, “so, I’d rather repair a crappy place, then a place that’s trying to grow?”
Duroy countered, “so, you want me to cater to the people with money versus the people that have less money? That’s not good for me. I don’t care if Seth Wadley and Blake Shelton have houses, they’re not friends of mine. I look at how much traffic is on the road and what condition it is in.”
He added that Western Heritage is a nice subdivision with roads that are ten times worse than the Taylor’s. Once both parties said what they wanted, the tension eased and they geared toward a possible compromise. Duroy offered to make the roads gravel to where they are safer for travel until the funds are available to completely redo them in a year to a year and a half, which is grind the roads, rebase them and relay them. He also gave them the option of filling the pot holes, even though it would not do much good.
Taylor asked where his subdivision was positioned on Duroy’s list. “Y’all are a little further down,” Duroy replied. “Buckeye will take more money, probably $4,000 to move the utilities.”
Duroy stated his district has been working on “major collectors” like Enos and Shay since the major floods in 2015. The money for repairing subdivision roads comes from the district’s Maintenance and Operations funds, making it difficult to repair the roads. “We get $30,000 a month to buy fuel, pay wages and insurance and everything from that. Doesn’t leave a whole lot for road work.”
Duroy admitted that they could “do a better job at patching.” Taylor said he liked to hear that admission.
Duroy said the proper way to fix a pothole is to “cut it out, square dig it, redo the base and pack it in.” According to Duroy, that method is feasible when there are less then five potholes to do. However, when there are thousands of them, “you put some stuff in it and hope it doesn’t rain and blow it out again.
Taylor ended his side of the conversation by saying, “I didn’t come here to bitch, I come here to try to help.”
Duroy replied, “I appreciate that. I’m not making excuses, just letting you know what we’re facing.”