Elbert County public works staff explains why only Augusta Loop was formally accepted in Spring Valley Ranch

Elbert County public works staff told the county—s board at an April 8 work session that only Augusta Loop in the Spring Valley Ranch subdivision completed the county—s formal road-acceptance process in 2024 and that the county will generally accept only true collector roads or roads that continue existing county roads going forward.

Monty Hankins, Elbert County public works director, said he asked for the work session after conversations with the Spring Valley developer about roads in filings 1 through 3 and residents— concerns about bonding and taxes. "I want to make sure the county was doing the right thing," Hankins said, describing earlier informal maintenance as a "handshake" arrangement that left some interior roads never formally accepted.

County staff and a longer-running file review showed the county began maintaining several…