A public hearing by Lincoln County supervisors regarding theproposed rerouting of Homer Lane drew protests from residents wholive along the road Tuesday.

The board is responding to a petition by Dan Wallace to close aportion of Homer Lane off of Bogue Chitto Road near Interstate 55.Wallace proposes the county reroute Homer Lane from Big CreekRoad.

Homer Lane splits Wallace’s District Four property, which isleased by Southwest Mississippi Regional Medical Center for itsclinic. His proposal would create a new path approximatelyone-quarter mile long at the edge of his property. The existingportion of Homer Lane that would be closed by the proposal wouldrevert to Wallace.

Supervisors are required by law to act on a landowner’spetition, but did not make a decision Tuesday. District OneSupervisor the Rev. Jerry Wilson and District Two Supervisor BobbyJ. Watts were appointed by Board President Gary Walker toinvestigate the road and claims of both parties.

A public hearing last month on the petition was recessed untilCounty Attorney Bob Allen could notify all residents along the roadof the intended changes and the date the board would be discussingthe proposal. The law also requires that those who are potentiallyaffected by a change be notified of the public hearing.

Tuesday, landowners Hilda Clark and Dr. Frank Loebig said theyopposed the rerouting of Homer Lane.

“My husband, about 40 years ago, had the county build thatroad,” Clark said. “I don’t think it should be closed off. I don’tthink that’s right.”

Clark said her late husband built the house for her on 9.9 acresof property at the end of Homer Lane and convinced the county tobuild a road to allow access to the property.

She opposed the change in memory of her husband and because thererouting would extend her drive to the interstate. Instead oftraveling straight along Homer Lane to Bogue Chitto Road andturning toward the interstate, she would have a right jog on HomerLane, left turn on Big Creek Road and a left turn onto Bogue ChittoRoad.

“I shouldn’t have to go all the way around to get there,” Clarksaid.

Loebig said he is building his $500,000 dream home on 7.5 acreson Homer Lane and based his plans on the existing road. He said hewould lose much of the money spent in clearing the property andpreparing the homesite because the rerouting would force him tomake changes in the plans.

“I can’t do it now,” he said. “I’ve cut (trees) based on the waythis road is setting now.”

Loebig said he could lose more money the longer this processdrags on. He closed on his New Orleans home on Aug. 15 and needs tofinish the Bogue Chitto home to move in.

However, he cannot proceed on the home until supervisors decidewhether Home Lane will be rerouted.

The resident said he negotiated for the property for more than ayear and spent even more time locating his dream site. But if theroad changes he will start the process again rather than build onthe site.

“It’ll force me to stop my dream,” he said. “I won’t be madabout it, but I’ll have to move.”

Loebig said he would keep the property and build guaranteedgovernment housing on the site if forced to seek anotherhomesite.

“What we’re talking about here is how many people areinconvienced by this change and how many are helped,” he said.

Wallace remained relatively quiet throughout the proceeding.

He said he would give the county the half of the easement neededon his property to build a new portion of Homer Lane. The otherhalf of the easement would be obtained from Loebig.

Wallace also denied a claim by Loebig that the resident kept ascreen of trees 20 feet deep and 1,100 feet long between the homeand clinic at his request.