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Councilman Washington proposes ordinance to let Sumter County address impassable private dirt roads for emergency access
Summary
Councilman Carlton B. Washington presented a draft ordinance March 26 to allow limited county maintenance of private dirt roads that are the sole access to occupied residences and impassable to emergency vehicles. He cited state law and prior opinions and asked Council to review triggers, costs and conveyance agreements.
Councilman Carlton B. Washington on March 26 introduced a draft ordinance that would allow Sumter County to take limited action on private dirt roads deemed to threaten public health and safety because they block emergency access to occupied residences. Washington read research and legal guidance, cited state law, and outlined criteria that would trigger county action.
Washington told the council he had sought advice and found an Attorney General opinion that had been interpreted as saying “it is illegal for the County to work on private roads,” but he also read a 1991 county attorney opinion and state law language describing ambulance service requirements (Section 6-1-190) that leave room for county discretion in ensuring essential services. Washington said previous changes to the county’s road-acceptance policy in the 1990s made…
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