Resident questions driveway citations and county says warnings are a courtesy

A Cusseta resident raised concerns at the Oct. 1 meeting of the Unified Government of Cusseta‑Chattahoochee County about a code enforcement warning issued after storm runoff left dirt in a driveway that reached the road.

JD Abercrombie, speaking on behalf of resident Teresa Parrish, said Parrish received a warning Sept. 13 for “dirt coming out into the road” at 132 Patterson Road and questioned why enforcement occurred on a day when two to three inches of rain fell. Abercrombie said volunteers cleaned the driveway and asked how many other driveways received warnings the same day and what accountability the county has for clearing roadways and ditches.

County Manager Thomas Weaver replied that warnings are the county’s formal system to inform residents of problems. “The county does what they can with what resources they have,” Weaver said, adding crews prioritize safety and work to make roads passable after storms and then return later to finish repairs.

Chairman Charles Coffey added that warnings are a courtesy and the county is not required to issue them on site: “A warning is a courtesy and we do not have to give them,” he said, noting staff do their best with limited equipment. Commissioner Jason Frost noted the county’s motor grader had been down for repairs and the county currently has one grader available, which affects how quickly roads are restored.

The exchange prompted discussion about the county’s process for issuing warnings and the timeline for completing work orders. Thomas Weaver said a work order had been entered for Patterson Road after the storm and that crews returned to make the road passable; he said some repairs take multiple visits because of resource constraints.

The commission did not take formal action at the Oct. 1 meeting on code enforcement procedures; residents were encouraged to continue reporting hazardous conditions so staff can prioritize repairs and follow up where possible.