County commissioner John Pethel says he’s tired of waiting for repair work on Sam Bruce Road.
He wants to see action now.
And Pethel brought up the matter again at the county commission table March 28. The bridge on Sam Bruce Road washed out years ago. And the county spent years in a legal battle with Sam Bruce Road property owner Marion “Hoss” Cartwright, who wanted to see the bridge left unrepaired and a portion of the road remain closed to traffic. County commissioners fought to keep the road open for public use. The legal battle ultimately cost the county roughly $300,000 in legal fees and engineering expenses. These expenses included a $60,000 settlement with Cartwright, who agreed to drop the case this past November.
“It’s been five months now since the case was settled on Sam Bruce Road,” said Pethel. “And about two or three times a day, five days a week, sometimes six days a week, I get asked the question, ‘Why are we not doing something on that, when it was told to us that as soon as the case was settled we’d start working on the bridge?’”
Pethel said he needed an answer immediately.
“I’d like to know something tonight that I can tell those people why there’s no work being done,” said Pethel.
BOC chairman Anthony Dove said county engineer Phil Munro is trying to get estimates on how much the bridge repair will cost.
“It’s in a floodplain and there’s going to have to be a certain type of structure put in there that doesn’t affect the floodplain,” said Dove. “As soon as he can get those prices then it will be up to the commission decided whether to do it.”
Pethel said he got the same answer months ago and that still nothing has been done.
“Those people over there are not accepting that,” said Pethel. “We either need to tell them we’re not going to do the bridge or we’re going to get started on it pretty quick. Five months is enough to build a dozen bridges … Somebody’s dropping the ball and all the blame is being put on me.”
Pethel said he’s tired of making excuses to people who ask about the bridge.
“As far as I’m concerned that’s top priority because we spent a lot of money trying to get that settled, and we finally got it settled, and now we’ve just dropped it, let it go,” said Pethel.
Dove said Tuesday he doesn’t feel the Sam Bruce Road bridge repair is the county’s top priority right now.
“I have to respectfully disagree with that,” said Dove. “I think Fine Finish is the top priority right now.”
Madison County’s Fine Finish facility, which provides daytime services to physically and mentally challenged adults in the county, is situated atop an old landfill and is structurally unsound. The BOC recently agreed that Fine Finish must be moved to a more stable facility. And the county is in the process of seeking a new site.
Let's look at it the county spent almost $300,000. and I think they could have built a bridge for less than that and put the rest in on other projects like the Fine Finish building?
By the way the BOC talked I thought they already had the estimates to fix the bridge and were ready to start work on it? In the end we find out they were not ready to fix Sam Bruce Rd. UNLESS a dead line is put on them by a court the bridge won't be fixed by this time next year? AND I hope they don't get the contractor who built the Fine Finish building to build the bridge OR we will be in this same position again and forever.
Here'a a tip boys, men, ladies, or what ever yall are calling yourselves this meek? If you get estimates you need to accept one of them SO let'd get to accepting NOW?
Previous commissioners have promised to pave the roads,but their words are worthless once they get elected.
He ought to give the employees a raise with that money. Since the county still owes the employees the balance of the raise they give back in 2007. Sounds like Pethel needs to get his priorities in order.
Pethel should look at it this way? What if the employees of Madison County went on strike until they get paid the money they are owed? Then Madison county would have NO law enforcement, NO Ambulance drivers or EMT's not to mention the county employees which include the water Dept.,Dog catcher, Public works, and the Road Dept. Which the road Dept.people don't fix the roads anyway so we don't need them BUT WE NEED THESE OTHER PEOPLE?
There was no case and I find it rather funny that Athens Clarke County Fire Dept still does exactly what all EMS services do and continues to do ! Which is no longer allowed in Madison County !