Tunnel Hill resident pleads for paving of her road
A Tunnel Hill woman is asking Catoosa County officials for help in getting her road paved after spending the last quarter-century suffering through sub-par access to her home.
During the Feb. 18 Board of Commissioner’s meeting, Vanessa Carroll made her plea to commissioners during the public appearances portion of the agenda.
Carroll says Lamoian Drive near Lake Road has been a mess for years and that she and others in that community desperately need something done.
“We have tried for 25 years to get Lamoian Drive paved,” Carroll said. “We’re in our 25th year of waiting for this road to be paved and I’m very upset about it. We’re supposed to have a two-way road curbed and paved.”
According to Carroll, the developer promised an “upgraded
mobile home subdivision” when the community was developed, which was to include paved roads. However, the developer never followed through on completing the road upgrades.
The road has numerous potholes, and Carroll says the recent rainy conditions have made the road even worse.
“The buses have to travel down that horrible road to pick up kids. I can’t imagine the damage being done to the school bus or even poor bus driver trying to control that school bus,” Carroll remarked.”
Carroll claims Catoosa County officials stated years ago that they would do something about the road, but that it never happened. In fairness, those assurances were made prior to any of the current commissioners taking office.
Carroll did admit that temporary adjustments have been made to the road over time, but nothing substantial or permanent.
“I think the last couple of times, they’ve brought some leftover paving and stuff that’s put on the road, but the first good couple of rainfalls washes it all away and we’re left with just trash and holes.”
After the meeting, Commission Chairman Steven Henry said he’s willing to look into the matter to see what can be done about the road.
Carroll passionately charged the board with doing something, anything.
“We want it paved,” Carroll said. “It’s supposed to be paved and we want it paved. I think that’s only fair. We’ve put up with it for 25 years and fair is fair.”
Adam Cook is a general assignment reporter and covers the Walker-catoosa County area. He has been a reporter since 2009.