Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Land And Property topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Reverend Alexander Newton raises deed dispute and sidetrack claim during public comment
Summary
Reverend Alexander Newton told commissioners he believes deeds for a family parcel now called Newton Park were removed from county records and said a sidetrack is needed for Amtrak service. County staff advised him the county cannot intervene in private property disputes and offered to provide contacts for local attorneys.
Reverend Alexander Newton addressed the Jones County Board of Commissioners during public comment on April 15 to report a long-running dispute over a family property he calls Newton Park, and to say he needs help clearing title issues to allow a railroad sidetrack to be built.
Newton said the property is a 16-acre tract adjoining a railroad that his family calls Newton Park and said deeds recorded historically have been removed from courthouse records. He described efforts dating to the 1800s and said he has copies of some deeds but that others disappeared after he cut timber and encountered legal claims by railroad companies.
“Amtrak will not come to Maker until I have a sidetrack, and I don't wanna be left with my name holding up to that sidetrack not gonna be put there,” Newton said, asserting the sidetrack is needed for passenger rail access.
County staff and a commissioner told Newton the county cannot intervene in private property disputes with railroad companies and advised him to consult a local attorney; staff offered to provide names and phone numbers for attorneys who handle real-estate issues. The county representative said they previously discussed the matter with Newton and reiterated the same recommendation.
No formal county action was taken at the meeting. The board’s staff agreed to provide a list of local attorneys to Newton; the county did not advise a legal remedy and emphasized the dispute appears to be between Newton and Norfolk Southern (the railroad) rather than a county responsibility.
Ending
Newton said he will begin contacting attorneys immediately; county staff said they would provide attorney contacts and noted the county’s limitations in resolving private-title disputes.
