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Greenwood County Council directs staff to write road-addition policy after heated debate
Summary
After hours of debate over costs and homeowner impacts, Greenwood County Council voted 5–2 to direct staff to draft a formal policy and procedure for requests to add private roads to the county-maintained system, following a failed motion to categorically refuse future road additions.
Greenwood County Council voted to direct county staff to develop a formal policy and procedure for evaluating requests to add private or developer-built roads to the county-maintained network, after a lengthy discussion about paving cycles, funding and homeowner expectations.
Public Works Director Rob Rush presented staff’s analysis, saying the county’s pavement cycle currently sits around 35 years and that improving to a 25-year cycle would require additional funding. Rush told council that, without extra state or local funds, the department does not have the capacity to keep up: "without the extra money, we cannot pave enough rows to keep up with our current system, and a $20 increase would cover we believe would cover a 25 year cycle." The estimate prompted debate about whether to accept new private roads and how to fund repairs for existing county roads.
Councilmember John Templeton moved for a resolution that the council does not intend to add current or future private roads to the county system; that motion failed 4–3 after members raised concerns about developer expectations and the immediate impact on homeowners in new subdivisions. Councilwoman Kathy Miller then offered a compromise motion directing staff to draft a written policy that would set clear criteria and a process for developers, homeowners’ associations and council consideration; that motion passed 5–2.
Supporters of the motion argued the policy would give staff clear guidance to tell developers what the county’s stance would be and would protect taxpayers from unexpected maintenance obligations. Opponents said the county should instead take a firmer stand and avoid taking on any additional private roads while the existing system remains underfunded.
The council’s direction requires staff to return with proposed procedures that will allow requesters and county staff to present information to council, and to include criteria the county will use to evaluate add-in requests, potential revenue impacts and recommended public-notification steps for homebuyers.
What happens next: County staff will draft the policy and return it to council for review and possible revision. Council members said any future consideration of fee increases to reach a 25-year cycle should be discussed during the budget process.
