Residents press Owsley County for road repairs on 'Wild Out Trail'; officials promise inspection and spot fixes

Residents described hazardous road conditions on Wild Out Trail and nearby county roads and asked county officials for gravel, guardrail and other repairs; officials said they would inspect the roads and attempt repairs when staffing and equipment allow.

Resident David Max said neighbors could not get up some hills from Jackson County during recent snow and ice events and requested gravel or other measures to improve safety. “There are some hills that when you come up from Jackson County onto our, our county, road...my daughter and some of the other ones that don't have 4 wheel drive could not get up,” Max said. He and another resident described mud, deep ruts and a spot where a car had gone off the road down a steep drop.

Meeting participants discussed potential solutions including grading, temporary surfacing and a short length of guardrail near a steep drop. An official said county staff would inspect the road, “I'll bring the road appointment. I'll bring the, new management here and we'll look it out of you,” and promised to fix potholes and bring equipment during the next maintenance rotation. The county representative cautioned that a certified guardrail might not be possible immediately but said officials would seek a short-term fix to reduce the immediate hazard.

Why it matters: residents said these roads serve remote households and recreational users, and during winter conditions some residents reported being unable to travel in or out. Officials committed to an on-site inspection and targeted repairs when crews are available.

Ending: Road staff said they scheduled inspection during the next maintenance rotation and will follow up with residents about specific repairs.