Stephens Co. Commission Looks At Abandoning Part of Camp Mikell Road

Stephens County Commissioners are considering abandoning part of Camp Mikell Road.

The issue came before county commissioners on Tuesday.

According to Stephens County Administrator Phyllis Ayers, the county is looking at abandoning only the part of the road that begins at a creek that does not have a bridge over it and continues onto Forest Service property.

Ayers said there are several reasons that the county wants to look at abandoning just that section of the road.

“First, being there is a creek that the equipment needs to cross that does not have a bridge on it,” said Ayers. “Then, the road gets very narrow. It is very difficult to turn the equipment around. The motor graders have not been on it in three years, mowers have not been out there in four years. The current property owner’s gate makes it a very narrow situation for us. The biggest reason is there is that flowing creek that makes it difficult to get across there and get that equipment back out.”

According to Ayers, there used to be a bridge over the creek that now separates the road, but that bridge washed away.

Ayers said that the county can continue maintaining everything that leads up to the creek that does not have a bridge.

She said there is one property owner that is on the other side of the creek that must cross that creek to get to their house.

Multiple county commissioners said they want to look at the matter further before making a decision on whether to move forward with a possible abandonment.

As a result, the county commission voted unanimously to postpone the issue.

Even if commissioners vote to move forward, there would have to be a public hearing and another vote before an abandonment would be official.