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Residents urge state and county help to fix Jarvis Plantation Road as 'orphan roads' bill advances
Summary
Property owners told the Surry County Board of Commissioners that Jarvis Plantation Road has degraded into a mile of unpaved, poorly drained roadway and asked the county to help secure state funding tied to a proposed 'Orphan Roads' grant (House Bill 159) that would cap awards at $250,000 and require a local match.
Residents who rely on Jarvis Plantation Road urged the Surry County Board of Commissioners on May 4 to help secure state assistance to repair roughly one mile of unpaved road that they say has become hazardous and difficult to access.
Sandra Swain, who said she represents property owners served by Jarvis Plantation Road, told the board the road was not brought up to state specifications when the area was developed and has become an "orphan road" that the North Carolina Department of Transportation will not adopt for maintenance. She described mail and school-bus service curtailed by the condition, counted roughly 161 potholes along the unpaved mile and said many residents cannot afford to bring the road up to DOT standards.
"We just need good ditches. We need good drainage," Swain said, asking the county to help Jarvis Plantation residents be first in line for any state program that funds orphan-road repairs.
Swain referenced a proposed General Assembly measure she provided to the board, House Bill 159, described in her materials as the "Orphan Roads Maintenance Program Grant." According to the packet she gave commissioners, the bill would establish a DOT special fund to improve subdivision streets that do not meet DOT minimum construction requirements, would limit awards to no more than $250,000 per subdivision and would require a local match equal to $0.25 for every $1 awarded.
Tony Cammer, who said he lives on South River Lane off Jarvis Plantation Road, told the board he has spent thousands of dollars on gravel and bought a $15,000 tractor to grade the road. "I put thousands of dollars of gravel down on that road," Cammer said, and he described multiple vehicle repairs residents attribute to road damage.
Commissioner Eddie Harris (spoken by speaker 15) said the problem is longstanding and tied to state law requiring roads to be graded, graveled, drained and paved to DOT specs before the state will take them over. "I do sympathize and, feel sorry for the folks down there on Jarvis Plantation Road," he said, and added he would speak with state Representative Eddie Settle about the proposed bill.
Commissioner Tucker (speaker 3) acknowledged county limits on road maintenance — noting the county no longer operates heavy road machinery on a broad scale — but pledged to press state officials for options. "We will make another passionate plea for you, and we'll ask them where this bill is, what's any kind of possibility," he said.
The board did not adopt any immediate local funding measure at the meeting. Commissioners told residents they will follow up with state representatives and review options, but emphasized that a full county-funded paving program for many similar roads would be costly and would require policy decisions and funding that the board has not approved.
Next steps: residents asked to remain engaged and the commissioners said they would consult with state representatives about House Bill 159 and the possibilities for DOT assistance.
