West Avenue and Cameron Drive abandonment prompts pushback from West End camp owners

Camp owners from the West End of Rutherford Beach asked the Cameron Parish Police Jury on Sept. 2 to remove two abandonment items from the voting agenda that would close portions of West Avenue and Cameron Drive. Speakers said the roads provide vital access to dozens of camps and that the jury voted against a similar abandonment less than a year earlier.

One speaker said the abandonment item (11B) would cut access for multiple camp owners and urged the jury to remove 11B and 11C from the voting agenda. Parish officials and road staff said safety and private‑property complaints were driving the consideration: portions of the road are frequently under high tide, culverts and buried hazards have been exposed, and landowners report vehicle crossings across private property.

Officials suggested compromises: shorten the advertised abandonment so maintenance stops at the last camp (preserving legal access to those camp owners) and advertise the abandonment so the public has 30 days to submit comments before a final vote. A juror said any final abandonment would be advertised and would return for a final vote, and that the jury would consult with neighboring entities and affected landowners before acting.

Outcome at meeting: The jury agreed to advertise the abandonment authority and to ask staff to prepare a revised footprint that would likely limit the abandonment to areas beyond the last occupied camp; final adoption would require a future vote after the advertisement and public comment period.