By Charles Romans
Carter County Times
The Carter County fiscal court held a special session last Wednesday to conduct regular business and discuss pressing issues with erosion along Wright’s Branch. Other items on the agenda included the clerk’s quarterly report, claims, transfers, and discussion of Wright’s Branch.
The meeting opened with the clerk presenting the quarterly report to the court, and the court voting unanimously to accept the report as presented. The court also voted unanimously to accept the claims as presented. There were no transfers that needed to be approved during the special session. The court then opened discussion on Wright’s Branch.
“We had put a bridge in on Pennington Road,” Judge Executive Brandon Burton told the court. But, he continued, “the water that is coming through Wright’s Branch Creek is eroding into Gary Jackson’s property.”.
“We have put rock in there, which is what state inspectors wanted us to do,” Burton said, explaining the issue. “But Gary says that is still trying to slip out. He’s wanting us to go probably a hundred feet, strengthen that rock and wall, and probably add some more rock.”
Burton said that he and road department head Jason Carroll have looked at the area, and the approximate cost for the project would be around $3,000.
“It is off county right of way,” Burton told the court. “Our bridge is turning (the water), water is flowing into that, and flooding could cause some damage, so I see his concerns.”
“If its doing damage, we need to fix it,” Magistrate Harley Rayburn told the court.
His sentiments were echoed by Magistrate Millard Cordle.
“The way the bridge is turned and the way the creek flows, it is causing some slippage there,” Burton confirmed. “But I want the court’s approval to be able to fix that. Contractors will be $130 per hour, at about eight hours.”
He said that the county would have to hire contractors to do the job, because it’s beyond the limits of the county’s equipment to address.
“We could do it,” Burton explained, noting the county crew has the expertise. “But we can’t lace the rock because we can’t get out on it.”
The limit, Burton said, is due to the county excavator not having the necessary reach to do the repairs properly.
After confirming contractor costs and the fact that the county would be furnishing the rock for the repair project, magistrate Cordle said that he believed the price was fair if the rest of the court agreed. Cordle made the motion to approve the repairs, seconded by Rayburn, and unanimously approved by the court.
There was no executive session required at the special meeting. Minutes of the meeting were read and approved unanimously.
Contact the writer at charles@cartercountytimes.com
