County unable to assist in road request

By Tony Farkas
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COLDSPRING — A property owner in San Jacinto County sought answers about why he had no access to his property, as the road is not maintained.

County officials, however, claim the road is not a valid county road, only a public road, and the county could not legally work on it.

At the regular court meeting on Wednesday, Elian Gutierrez said he has discussed the lack of access to his property, particularly after heavy rains, with the county saying every other home in the Lake Livingston Acres subdivision does have access.

He said he has visited with Commissioner Laddie McAnally about finishing the road; nothing was done except a sign was posted saying the county does not maintain that road. He said it was done without a vote, as he reviewed court records about it.

Faulkner said the state Legislature required all counties produce a road map, which was done, and public meetings were held, and at that time, he did not know if Gutierrez’ road was on that.

Gutierrez said he was told that he pays taxes in that area just to have roads finished.

McAnally said that according to his information, the road was not a county road. Faulkner said that the county has never accepted that road for maintenance, even though it is designated a public road. The county’s actual responsibility on that stretch is about 1,400 feet.

Gutierrez asked what his next steps should be, since it was unfair that the rest of the subdivision has maintained roads; Commissioner Donnie Marrs said it was unfair that the county took in undeveloped subdivisions that need roads.

“I get these real estate companies sell these people from all over the United States (property) that’s nothing but swampland and expect us to build a million-dollar road to a $2 piece of property,” Marrs said. “It will never happen. These real estate companies should be liable; them’s the people you should be talking to, not coming up here griping at us.”

He said that if it happens once, then everyone wants work done, and if the county refuses, then residents will file charges with the DA’s Office and commissioners go to the federal penitentiary.

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In other business, the county:

•approved the renewal notice and benefit confirmation with the Texas Association of Counties;

•approved a change in Integrated Prescription Management’ billing structure;

•approved bond renewals for three county employees;

•approved bids for a tractor and asphalt grinder;

•approved issuing a credit card for the jail transport officer;

•approved the rehire of Garrett Plymate as a jailer, provided he passes the state jailer exam;

•approved the bid for contract hauling;

•approved an economic development workshop for June 29; and

•approved a $37,000 donation from Keith Moran to pay for materials to pave Forest Service Road 217.