McLendon-Chisholm Council approves Glen Acres petition to convert private roads to city maintenance with owner cost-share

The McLendon-Chisholm City Council on a unanimous voice vote approved a petition to convert the private streets in the Glen Acres subdivision to city-owned and maintained roads, adopting a financing structure that places 75% of initial construction costs on property owners and 25% on the city.

City staff told the council the ordinance enabling conversions had been adopted earlier in 2025 and that the Glen Acres petition seeks conversion of Briar Glen Drive, Meadow Drive and Glen Acres Drive to public streets. Council heard resident testimony describing decades of resident-funded maintenance, a deteriorated asphalt surface and a failing culvert that had prompted the school district to stop bus service into the neighborhood.

A resident representative, Miss Hildreth, told council she had met with neighbors and that the group understood the terms including a payment plan and the possibility of liens if property owners do not pay. In the motion approved by council, the financing terms cited in the motion were a 3.6% interest rate for 20 years. The motion directed that property owners would repay their share over time and that the city would assume future maintenance responsibilities once the required construction to bring the streets to city standard is completed.

Council discussion acknowledged the difficulty of the choice but emphasized safety and the need to restore reliable emergency and delivery access to the neighborhood. One councilmember said the petition was a "request for a hand up, not a hand out," noting the city will require repayment from owners and that the action is intended to protect public health, safety and welfare.

The council approved the motion by voice vote; the transcript records the result as "Motion passes" following the roll-call discussion.