Some dirt roads remain unpaved

Al Sample says he has tried for 30 years to persuade Columbia County officials to pave the Appling road he lives on - Crawford Place Road.

Mr. Sample said he had hope when voters passed a 2006 general obligation bond, which earmarked about $2.1 million to pave his road. That feeling has faded.

"I've been there at every (county) meeting raising hell, wondering what's taking so long," Mr. Sample said. "It's just taking them forever. To me, it's ridiculous the amount of time that they're taking."

The holdup on Crawford Place Road, and many other unpaved roads, is the acquisition of rights of way, said Scott Herring, the county's Construction and Maintenance director.

Mr. Herring likely will bring a proposal for some new condemnation procedures for rights of way to a Nov. 25 commission committee meeting. When a resident does not immediately donate a right of way to the county, Mr. Herring said, officials typically follow the path of least resistance and shift their focus to dirt roads where right of way acquisition is easier.

Mr. Sample disagrees with that philosophy.

"That takes too long," he said. "To me, you should go to the person and say, 'Hey, we're widening this road and we need this much property. Do you want to donate it?'"

Should a person refuse, condemnation proceedings should start immediately, Mr. Sample said.

Reach Donnie Fetter at (706) 868-1222, ext. 115, or donnie.fetter@augustachronicle.com.