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1 <br />2 <br />3 <br />4 <br />5 <br />6 <br />7 <br />8 <br />9 <br />10 <br />11 <br />12 <br />13 <br />14 <br />15 <br />16 <br />17 <br />18 <br />19 <br />20 <br />21 <br />22 <br />23 <br />24 <br />25 <br />26 <br />27 <br />28 <br />29 <br />30 <br />31 <br />32 <br />33 <br />34 <br />35 <br />36 <br />37 <br />38 <br />39 <br />40 <br />41 <br />42 <br />43 <br />44 <br />45 <br />46 <br />47 <br />48 <br />49 <br />50 <br />51 <br />52 <br />53 <br />54 <br />55 <br />56 <br />VII. PUBLIC HEARINGS <br />A. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION - SECONDARY ROADS <br />Dr. Gorman Gilbert, member of the North Carolina Board of Transportation, said that this <br />program is a partnership between the DOT and local government. John Watkins, District Engineer, reported <br />on last years program. All roads have been completed or are in the process of being completed except for <br />Forbes Road where right-of-way could not be obtained so this section will be dropped from the list. He listed <br />those roads which will be considered for paving this year. They are listed in the agenda abstract. This <br />program, when completed, will serve 156 homes. <br />Commissioner Gordon made reference to paving subdivision roads and John Watkins <br />said they have paved all subdivision roads with more than 50 cars. There are others that will probably be <br />added to the list once they are rerated. <br />THE PUBLIC HEARING WAS OPEN FOR CITIZEN COMMENT <br />Mr. Scott Sykes, representing those who live on the unpaved section of Arthur Minnis <br />Road, said that about 4 or 5 months ago this road was high on the list. However, because several property <br />owners would not give DOT the right-of-way, they are no longer being considered. He asked that this road <br />be reconsidered because of safety issues. He said that there were four accidents on this road last year. <br />Also, this road is impassable 80% of the time in the winter. With 1-40 only two miles away, they get a lot of <br />through traffic on this road. He asked that DOT try again to obtain these signatures. <br />Mr. Frederick who lives on Arthur Minnis Road said that all law enforcement and EMS <br />avoid this road because it is impassable. He asked that the process for making someone release the <br />property necessary to pave this road be initiated. <br />Mr. Ed Johnson said that he has spent 21 or 22 years as president of the Orange Grove <br />Fire Dept. and now serves as vice-president. He talked about Arthur Minnis Road and Buckhorn Road. He <br />thought they were to be paved in 94 -95. The fire department considers portions of Arthur Minnis Road and <br />Buckhorn Road so bad that they do not let fire trucks go on these roads. If they have a call on these roads, <br />they take the long way around which adds several minutes to the response time. He talked about the routes <br />they take for calls on these roads. They are worried about the health and safety of the people who live in <br />their fire district. He feels the traffic count is misleading. They have sent out letters to the 20 landowners <br />who live on that road. The majority want it paved and several had questions and one who said no would <br />probably change their opinion and one was a definite no. He knows that the Board would not like to use <br />condemnation, but asked that the Board use moral persuasion. He urged the County Commissioners to help <br />in this process. <br />Mr. Joyce Thompson spoke in support of paving Doc Corbett Road and told about <br />those who live on that road and the hardships they suffer because this road is not paved. He commended <br />the Rescue Squad for their quick response when his wife had an aneurysm. <br />Ms. Iris Chapman spoke on behalf of the parents who live on Doc Corbett Road. She <br />talked about the snow and how they could not get out for 10 days. She asked that the Board move this road <br />up on the list. The road is greatly eroded and they have a lot of elderly people who live on this road. <br />John Watkins said that the funds will be available in July. They do the surveying and <br />obtain the right-of-way during the winter and pave the roads in the spring of the next year. It is necessary <br />that they get free right-of-way and they depend on the residents to give them this right-of-way. The road <br />stays on the list and as soon as they get the right-of-way they put it on the list to pave. They don't do <br />condemnation because it is costly. <br />Commissioner Halkiotis encouraged those who live on Arthur Minnis Road to work with <br />those citizens who don't want to sign. He recognizes that there is a safety issue and something needs to <br />be done. <br />Commissioner Halkiotis commended DOT for lowering the speed limit at the new A. L. <br />Stanback School and asked that they continue to monitor that traffic situation. He asked that DOT look at the <br />old A. L. Stanback school and particularly the Nash Street entrance. It is very dangerous because of the hill <br />on Nash. There will be more traffic and more automobiles when the new Hillsborough Elementary School <br />opens in July and he asked that they look at this situation. <br />John Link asked DOT if there is one property owner who for various reasons will not sign <br />the right-of-way, will DOT consider paving on both sides of that individual's property. John Watkins said that <br />they do that on occasion if they can get a meaningful portion - at least half of the road. The problem on <br />Arthur Minnis Road is that those ten people who have not signed are scattered throughout. Dr. Gilbert said