Long-needed improvements to a south Lincoln County road areclose to moving forward if some landowners will sign over portionsof their property for the work, county officials said Thursday.

“We’re at a point now where we’re real close and ready to go,”District 4 Supervisor W.D. “Doug” Moak told a handful of propertyowners who traveled a patched and bumpy Montgomery Road to get toMontgomery Baptist Church for last night’s meeting.

Moak said a former supervisor designated the road for State Aidprogram assistance, and it has been a priority for him while he’sbeen in office. The estimated $1.2 million project would use StateAid road funds to construct approximately three miles of new roadbetween the church and Highway 51.

County Engineer Carl Ray Furr said the county receivesapproximately $3.75 million in State Aid and federal road fundinghelp during a four-year supervisor’s term. With about 60 percent ofthat money going to address existing road maintenance priorities,Furr said little is left for new road work.

“We do not get to build very many roads like this in a four-yearterm,” Furr said.

While the county is getting state funds for road construction,the money to buy needed rights of way must come from the county’sroad and bridge fund, said Bob Allen, board of supervisorsattorney. Engineers have designed the road to meet state guidelinesand the modifications will require some land from several propertyowners along the new route.

Allen said the county is willing to offer $1,000 an acre for theland or there could be an appraisal and negotiations. The “worst ofall situations” would be for the county to have to pursue eminentdomain proceedings, Allen said.

Allen said the county would prefer property owners donate theirland.

“We’re hoping that people who want the road improved will bewilling to donate the property to us,” Allen said.

After looking at the county’s road plans and seeing how the workwould affect them, property owners had several questions about theproject. One mentioned a route concern in his area, church trusteeshad parking space loss concerns and others questioned alternativesto building a new road.

One suggestion was to simply resurface the road. Countyofficials estimated that would cost about $40,000 a mile, but thenstate funds could not be used in that case.

“It’s hard for us to put $100,000 to $200,000 in a road,” Moaksaid. “We just ain’t got it.”

Engineer Hugh Long, with Furr’s firm, said later that therewould be other problems with the resurface approach. He said theexisting road bed wouldn’t support it, and there would still besharp curves. Higher speeds because of the new surface would alsobe a problem.

“We cannot build a road that’s unsafe,” Long said.

At last night’s meeting, J.W. and Joan Holmes signed over theirless than half an acre needed for the work.

“We’re ready for a new road,” Joan Holmes said. “Let them haveit. We just want the road fixed.”

Some other property owners were glad to attend the meeting.Elliott Moak said giving property to the county was good and wouldsave a lot of trouble; however, he doubted if very many propertyowners would be willing to donate their land.

“It’s going to cost them,” Moak said, adding that the countydoesn’t offer breaks on property taxes.

Moak’s wife Delores had concerns about road conditions while theconstruction is going on.

“My pet peeve is it’s going to take a long time, and it’s goingto be a mess,” Mrs. Moak said.

Supervisor Doug Moak said he hoped to have all needed rights ofway by the end of November. The eight-to-nine month projectschedule would have to road being built in the spring, which shouldbe good weather months, he said.

Thursday’s meeting was the first time landowners affected by aproposed road project had been brought together beforehand todiscuss the project. Previously, supervisors would contactlandowners individually about a project and that often slowedprogress.

“This way, the people get the same answers to the questions andthere can be more continuity in a project,” Moak said.

Furr complimented Moak and District Supervisor Nolan EarlWilliamson, whose district includes a portion of the road, forholding the meeting.

“Normally, we don’t do this,” Furr said.

While landowners had their own opinions about their affectedproperty, there seemed to be agreement that the road needs to befixed.

“Some people don’t want to fly over it, let alone drive overit,” J.W. Holmes said about road, prompting laughter throughout thechurch fellowship hall.

Property owners were given information packets to take homewhile considering the county’s requests. They may contact Moak orAllen’s office to act on the right of way documents.