Council reviews proposed acceptance of Deacon Development roads; staff report they meet city standards

Easley City Council reviewed Resolution 2025-05 on March 10, 2025, which would accept certain roads from Deacon Development LLC into the City of Easley road inventory. Councilmembers asked whether the roads met city standards; city staff and the city engineer reported inspections had been completed.

A city staff member told the council that “Public works and our engineer both went out and checked it. I said it is up to our standards.” Councilmembers asked about resurfacing and minimum thickness requirements. The engineer explained the roadway had been built with a base and stone and that “at the time of installation, it was an inch and a half of surface course over that.” He said the road had “held up really well” for about 10 years and that only a single asphalt patch had been required.

Staff described the city’s proof-roll test process used to check pavement strength: load the truck (a 60,000‑pound dump truck), run it over the pavement, observe for weak spots, and require replacement or additional stone where deficiencies appear. The engineer said the contractor had made minor curb repairs where cracks were observed and that the structure was sound.

Council members questioned the long-term cost implications of taking private subdivision streets into the city inventory. One participant asked, “What advantage is it for the city to take these streets over? I mean, this just seems like it's gonna cost the taxpayers more in the long run.” City staff responded that if a roadway is private and not built to city standards, the city cannot take it into inventory; when a developer builds to city standards and dedicates the road, it becomes part of the municipal system and city maintenance responsibility.

The transcript does not record a formal vote to adopt Resolution 2025-05 during the March 10 work session. The council’s discussion focused on inspection results, pavement thickness and testing, a small amount of curb repair, and the procedural basis for accepting dedicated streets into the city system.