Resident’s long‑running request prompts court to approve blacktop work; county to assess scope and costs

Resident Royce McGowan addressed the Russell County Fiscal Court during other business on July 14 about a partially blacktopped road in his area. McGowan said he had previously paid to have a portion of the road paved and that the county had promised additional work; he asked the court to complete the remaining work where the roadway narrowed and bluffed.

Magistrates debated responsibility and prior promises; one magistrate moved to repair the road using the general fund because the work had been promised to the resident. The court approved the motion by voice vote. The judge instructed staff to get Joe Todd (county roads staff) to assess the work required and to report back; magistrates discussed confirming width, addressing washed‑out sections and installing or repairing drainage (tile) before blacktopping.

Why it matters: the motion directs county resources toward a specific roadway issue raised by a resident; the court emphasized an on‑site assessment before contracting to determine exact work and costs.

Details: the resident mentioned varied cost estimates and said that prior work he had paid for toted roughly $22,000 (his estimate) and that later estimates for a mile would have been about $89,000 per mile given rubberized asphalt pricing; magistrates and staff discussed that the actual segment requiring work was closer to a half‑mile and might cost roughly $40,000–$50,000, though the court did not authorize a specific dollar amount at the meeting. The county will have its staff inspect the site and report back with a scope and cost estimate.