By Rose Hooper
If the roads are not property of the town, the town cannot maintain
them, Dillsboro board members told a group of Dills Hills residents
during a called meeting Nov. 24.
The roads in Dills Hills are subdivision roads which do not meet
state requirements, Mayor Jean Hartbarger said.
Town clerk Herb Nolan said the state requires a 16-foot width, plus
a paved curb, 12 to 18 inches wide.
"That would take my mulberry bushes and be right at my front
porch," said one resident, unwilling to give up that space.
"Most people who own property up there, own part of the road
- like my property goes to the other side of the road," said
Mary Bumgarner, board member and Dills Hills property owner.
If the town were to maintain the roads, the majority of the property
owners must sign a petition and be willing to transfer ownership
of the roads to the town, Nolan said.
"I don't see that happening," said Bumgarner. Other residents
present at the meeting agreed with her.
"I just spent $11,000 on road maintenance. I'm sure not going
to turn my property over to the town so you can assess me another
50 percent of improvement costs," said one resident.
Nolan had explained that if the town takes over and improves the
roads, the property owners would be assessed a percentage of the
costs, not to exceed 50 percent.
"The town used to take care of our roads - why can't you still?"
several residents asked the board.
Hartbarger said the current board could not be responsible for actions
taken by previous boards.
"We use Powell Bill funds to pay for our road improvements,
and we don't collect any Powell Bill funds for Dills Hills,"
Hartbarger said. "It would be illegal for us to use taxpayers'
dollars for something that didn't belong to the town."
"If we can't get any services, why can't we just be taken out
of the town?" another resident said.
Hartbarger said they do receive services since the town uses taxpayers'
dollars to contract for police and fire protection.
"Also, our contract with the Sylva Volunteer Fire Department
enables you to have lower rates on your homeowner's insurance premiums,"
Hartbarger said. |
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