Commissioners approve timber‑transport ordinance, road relocation policy and several abandonments as paving plan evolves

Dooly County commissioners tackled several road‑ and transport‑policy items in 1997 including a new timber transport ordinance, a road relocation/construction policy, multiple abandonments of little‑used road segments and a prioritized list of paving projects for submission to GDOT.

On June 5 the board held the second reading and adopted the Timber & Pulpwood Transport Ordinance effective July 1, 1997, a measure intended to make operators responsible for road damage caused by logging and pulpwood hauling. The June 5 meeting records show the motion passed unanimously.

The board also developed a formal Road Relocation/Construction Policy that sets conditions under which the county will relocate or construct new roads at the request of private parties, including a fee formula ($5.00 per linear foot plus cross‑drain costs), minimum 60‑foot right‑of‑way conveyance and requirement that the requester provide fill and base dirt or secure waiver.

Throughout the year the board addressed many abandonment requests where landowners and neighbors were notified and hearings held. Notable examples include Smyrna Church Road (a contested abandonment that the board declared abandoned March 6 after a close vote), Taylor Gin Road and McCrary Road. Commissioners also prepared a nine‑item paving priority list totaling approximately 23.01 miles for DOT bidding cycles and authorized county right‑of‑way agreements for DOT paving projects earlier in the year.

Commissioners said the changes clarify responsibilities when private activity affects county roads and create a more transparent process for new road construction or abandonment while coordinating county priorities with state paving programs.