Residents urge action on Autumn Grace Road maintenance; county to survey and review right-of-way

Multiple residents and property owners addressed the Appling County Board of Commissioners during public comment to request clearing and maintenance of Autumn Grace Road, which they said has been overgrown and obstructed for years.

Two residents who identified themselves as living at or owning property on Autumn Grace Road described restricted access caused by trees and plantings and said the road had been litigated and previously declared a public road. One speaker said she has owned land for about 50 years and has lost rental income because tractors cannot access the parcel; she provided the board a highlighted court document signed by the late Judge William R. Killian that she said supports the road's public status.

A resident said property at the far end of the road had been planted and described confrontations with an adjacent property owner who planted on the easement; the sheriff's office had been called to the location to explain easement law. The board and county surveyor discussed setting a right-of-way width and asked the county surveyor to perform a new survey. One resident said she would obtain a private survey and "if the surveyor says this survey is right... I will put posts up and put me up a privacy fence about 7 foot tall," and commissioners agreed to allow time for the private surveyor to visit.

County staff told the speakers the county surveyor would also take a look, and commissioners directed the road department to "drag" (grade) the road after survey confirmation. The board asked staff to return with the survey results and to confirm the legal status and width of the right-of-way before permanent work or fencing was finalized.

The board did not take immediate enforcement action at the meeting but instructed staff to assist with surveying and to coordinate follow-up with the parties.