Fiscal Court hears petition to close portion of Kendall Thomas Road, votes to leave it open

Ballard County Fiscal Court voted to leave a contested section of Kendall Thomas Road open after a public hearing in which a property owner asked the county to stop maintaining or to close the road past a double cover.

At the hearing Mr. Lowe, a property owner on Kendall Thomas Road, said a licensed survey shows a gravel path running through his land and asked the court to "end the county access of the road" where it would serve only one landowner. "I'm not trying to block access to anybody," he said, adding his primary concerns were liability, harassment of wildlife and his "right of quiet enjoyment." He also asked for clarification on whether the road had ever been deeded to the county.

A county road inspector and the road supervisor described prior maintenance and said the county has historically maintained the road to a point near the curve. The road supervisor told the court the road should remain open. Court members discussed placing a "no outlet" or "dead end" sign as an initial measure.

Following discussion, a motion to leave the road in the county system and keep it open was made and seconded; the court announced the motion carried. Speaker 1 reminded anyone unhappy with the decision that a legal appeal to Ballard Circuit Court is available.

Why it matters: The decision resolves a long-running dispute raised by a landowner who has sought clarification since 2011 and affects local maintenance responsibilities, liability exposure and public access. The court emphasized incremental steps (signage, inspection) rather than immediate closure.

What happens next: The court said it will provide inspector reports to participants and pursue administrative follow-up; those who disagree with the outcome can appeal to Ballard Circuit Court.