Residents at Fox Shot Trail urge Holmes County to stop reckless off-road activity

Residents who live near 2288 Fox Shot Trail told the Holmes County Board of County Commissioners on Tuesday that off-road vehicles, loud music and discarded drug paraphernalia at a nearby boat-ramp area are creating safety and public‑health hazards.

“All this stuff is out of hand … Y’all need to help us before something happens to somebody,” resident Allison Bitts said during the public‑comment period. She described vehicle racing, needles and broken glass near the launch and said residents who report tag numbers feel ignored.

Houston Harris, who said he lives “out there on that boat,” said drivers in expensive 4‑wheel vehicles and ATVs do donuts, tear up graded roads and leave tire fires and trash behind. “They burned car tires … they’ve had women’s stuff and all kinds of stuff that’s left down there,” Harris said.

Nancy Pitts, who also lives in the campsite area, said dust from repeated vehicle traffic has made outdoor activities difficult and that she fears for children who play near the roadside. “I can’t even have any cookouts … one day they’re not gonna see them, and someone’s gonna end up really badly hurt or worse, dead,” Pitts said.

The chairman said county staff would follow up with the law‑enforcement agencies and asked residents for contact information so officials could reach them. The board did not take formal action but directed staff to contact the residents and discuss enforcement options with the sheriff’s office and other responsible departments.

County staff and commissioners did not set a timetable in the meeting for further steps or a return report to the commission.