Commissioners settle matter of public vs. private road

By Staff
Clif Knight, Hartselle Enquirer
The Morgan County Commission is opting to continue the public road status of Blevins Road in District 2 despite the objections of Robert E. and Lois Fuller.
The commission voted unanimously on the matter at a public hearing prior to their regular meeting on Tuesday.
The Fullers, who own rental property on the road, tried unsuccessfully to convince the officials the road is not a county road but a private driveway on a16 foot easement. They said when they bought their land and house in 1984, they did so with the knowledge that a road crossing the property giving access to their neighbors to the south was a private drive and part of their land.
Some of their neighbors had a different story.
Keith Blevins said he and his family have lived on the road since 1962 and it has always been treated as a public road maintained by the county. The county paved the road and residents have mail and garbage service, he said.
Martha Hardin said the church congregation she pastors rented a building located on the road and established a church in 1993. She said the county maintained the road at that time and members of her congregation continue to maintain the right-of-way.
"My vote is for the road to stay a county road," she said.
The Fullers maintained they have no problem with people using the road but opposed it having the status of a public road. The said by it not having legal status as a private drive in 2006 cost them the sale of their property.
The commission acted on other matters as follows:
Authorized the chairman to advertise for bids to furnish District 4 with a used grapple truck and a used brush truck.