At the Wilson County Road Commission meeting on April 3, 2025, two neighbors used the public-comment period to raise a dispute over a culvert, drainage and alleged unpermitted work affecting private property adjacent to a county right of way.

The matter drew sustained attention during public comment because residents said the drainage has repeatedly flooded homes and yards, and because one property owner accused another of attempting to reroute water onto neighboring land. Resident Eric, who identified himself as the owner of the larger parcel involved, said he is not selling the land and asked the commission for a timeline so he can coordinate his own work with county crews. "I'm not money hungry. I'm not selling it," Eric said. "Commissioner Murphy's got a viable plan that he's going to attack the situation with. Today, all I'm looking for is, you know, a timeline so I can schedule the work that I'm gonna do on my property in conjunction with that."

Why it matters: flooding and drainage along county rights of way can damage private property and public roads, and attempts to alter culverts or open pipes can shift runoff onto neighbors. Neighbors told the commission the dispute has involved heated personal confrontations, a police trespass report and repeated on-the-ground clearing of debris in the creek.

Details from public comments: Eric told the commission he owns a 68-acre parcel and said he had surveyed approximately two acres of the tract that are zoned or shown as "commercial" on parcel paperwork; he said he bought the property and that it has been in his family for nearly 200 years. He said he plans to keep the property in the family and is moving his daughter there. He asked for a firm timeline so his work would not interfere with county crews.

A neighbor who identified themself as Taser Rogers described confronting the property owner on several occasions and said the owner "was trying to open up a pipe to dump water onto my property. We told him, in fact, at that point in time, we would sue." Rogers said family members have repeatedly cleared debris from the creek with chainsaws and hand tools, that county crews removed a large log once, and that Rogers has installed French drains and used rented equipment to direct runoff to the creek rather than onto neighbors' yards. Rogers also said law enforcement took a report after a confrontation and that, he believes, the other property owner later obtained a trespass order against him.

Several speakers raised concerns about marking or digging near the county right of way. Rogers said a blue line was painted across the road and dirt was dug next to the road; he said he contacted the county water department and was told it had not authorized those markings. Rogers asked the commission to make a motion to stop any unpermitted work.

County staff response and next steps: Steve Murphy, the commission's secretary, said he has inspected the site and described plans to attempt to remove or loosen a flat slab of rock that staff believe is contributing to the backup. "I'm gonna have to rent a hammer to do it, but I'm gonna take a hammer down there and see what we can do to get the water to go on out," Murphy told the commission. Murphy said he could not guarantee that breaking the rock would clear the entire obstruction but said he would attempt to open the flow so high water can reach the creek.

No formal motion or vote altering rights, permits or property ownership was taken during the meeting; the matter was discussed at length during public comment and in staff remarks. Residents asked for a timeline and coordination; county staff described an operational step they will try in the short term.

Ending: The commission did not adopt an enforcement action or change permitting rules at the meeting. Residents and staff left the session with an understanding that county crews would attempt field work to improve flow and that at least one property owner expects to coordinate private work with the county schedule.