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Residents press county on ‘orphan’ private roads; commissioners point to orphan‑roads work and EMS concerns
Summary
Multiple residents told commissioners about unsafe conditions on private or 'orphan' roads that block emergency access and complicate mail and services; commissioners and county staff said an orphan‑roads review and outreach effort is underway and that EMS and county staff will examine specific access issues raised.
Several Onslow County residents used the county’s public‑comment period Monday to press the board for action on private or so‑called “orphan” roads that lack a public maintenance responsibility and, they said, are in poor condition.
John Barnett, a long‑time resident of Wildcat Pond Road in Hubert, described a gated or obstructed portion of his road that he said prevents left turns onto Belgrade‑Swansboro Road and impedes emergency vehicle access. Barnett said a judge previously ordered a road reopened but that property disputes and a subsequent excavation left a deep rutted area: “Anybody wanting to go right coming out here from Belgrade side, they can’t get through…There’s been a few commissioners I’ve taken down that road in my pickup truck,” he said, and he reported that ambulances have at times been unable to reach homes on the route.
David Williams, another resident, called for shared responsibility for road fixes and proposed a model where the county pays half of a repair cost and loans the remainder to property owners; he also urged state engagement for broader solutions. Williams said many residents were unaware of private‑road responsibilities when they purchased homes and that the county should consider equitable approaches that do not unduly burden middle‑income households.
Elliot Jarman urged greater transparency around Emergency Medical Services, saying longer ambulance response times and staffing shortages are life‑and‑death issues and requesting that the county make the level of detail it receives in workshops public so residents can see hiring, vehicle and pay plans.
County staff and commissioners acknowledged the problem. The chairman said staff would pass Barnett’s concerns to EMS and to County staff (Metcalfe/Metcalfe’s office was asked to look at the road), and commissioners praised a recent orphan‑roads workshop and outreach effort. Commissioner comments later in the meeting thanked staff for the orphan‑roads event and noted broad public engagement on the issue.
No formal board action or appropriation was taken at the meeting; commissioners directed staff to follow up and to coordinate with EMS and relevant departments to assess access and potential remedies.
The comments reflect long‑running confusion about private road ownership, a mix of state and county rules dating to the 1970s, and resident calls for policy changes to address emergency access, maintenance cost allocation and equitable funding models.
