Scotland County commissioners request NCDOT review of Lees Mill Road bridge signage

Scotland County commissioners voted May 5 to ask the North Carolina Department of Transportation to review signage and safety at the Lees Mill Road bridge over Shoe Hill Creek following public complaints about enforcement and fines.

The action grew out of public comment by Jimmy Watts, who told the board he had been cited and fined in connection with activity near the bridge and said he believed he had been retaliated against after publicizing the issue. County Manager April Snead told commissioners she had contacted NCDOT and found agency files showing a “no fishing from bridge” sign dated February 2006 and “no parking” signs dated February 2013 but no documentation explaining why either sign was installed. Snead said NCDOT staff told her it is not, under state practice for secondary roads, per se illegal to fish from a bridge.

Why it matters: residents have raised concerns about enforcement, parking and trash at the site, and the board said the public deserves a clear explanation of what is permitted and what is required for safety. Commissioners emphasized that NCDOT has authority over state roadways and that the county cannot unilaterally remove or alter state-installed signs.

Discussion at the meeting focused on three practical points: NCDOT’s files lacked a rationale for the signs’ installation, the board should request an independent NCDOT review of the bridge and adjacent area (roughly a quarter-mile on either side) to determine appropriate signage or safety improvements, and that the county would re-evaluate if removal of signage produced new safety or nuisance problems. The sheriff’s office also noted that if deputies observe hazardous parking or other safety risks, an officer report could trigger a DOT review.

Commissioners approved a motion directing the chairman to send a letter to NCDOT requesting an evaluation of the bridge and surrounding approaches and to report back to the board. The motion was seconded and approved by voice vote. Commissioners and staff emphasized the request is a formal ask for NCDOT to make a determination; the county does not control NCDOT decisions and cannot guarantee the signs will be removed.

The board asked staff to draft the letter and to seek a response in a timely window so the county can inform residents. The county also said it would include a caveat that, if NCDOT removes parking restrictions and problems such as trash, partying or hazardous parking recur, the county will seek to have signage reinstalled or take other appropriate steps.

The action follows earlier public comment at the meeting in which Watts said he had posted video about the bridge and described enforcement and personnel issues; county leaders said they would address the individual personnel concerns later in the meeting as a separate matter.

Next steps: staff will draft the board’s letter to NCDOT and pursue the agency’s evaluation. The board directed that the county communicate results to residents after NCDOT responds.