Split public reaction as Walker County begins process to consider abandoning section of Concord Road

Walker County commissioners voted on April 2 to begin the formal process to consider abandoning a portion of Concord Road between Albert Thompson Drive and East Armerche Road, setting a required public hearing for the May 7 meeting after a nearly three‑hour public‑comment period that reflected deep local division.

The board’s action — described by the chair as "step one" in a multi‑step process that includes notice to abutting property owners and a public hearing — passed unanimously, with at least one commissioner recusing later votes on the matter because of a relationship with an applicant.

The meeting’s public comment section was dominated by the Concord Road dispute. Jim Polk, speaking for concerned citizens, said a petition with 111 signatures urged the board "to keep the road open," citing access and safety concerns for farm equipment forced onto busier roads. "We need the road," Polk said.

Other neighbors asked the county to close the narrow, largely unpaved segment. Juanita Monham, who lives on the southeast end of the section under consideration, told commissioners: "The main reason is just safety." Monham described narrow, blind curves, no shoulders, and repeated close calls that she said force residents off the road to avoid collisions.

Mary Wise, who owns property along the disputed segment, urged closure and cited repeated dumping and an incident she described as "night hunting," saying she had a photograph of a man "on our property with night vision goggles on, camo, and a gun, stalking our land." Michael Wise, who said he conducted a 40‑day traffic count, reported an average of about three vehicles per day, noting some counts were inflated by workers building a barn on his property.

Other speakers emphasized Concord Road’s historic and future value. John Longwood called the road a historic local landmark whose improvement could support bicycle tourism and connectivity to other county routes. Steven Grigsby and others said residents still use the road for routine access to neighbors, emergency checks and farm work.

Speakers on both sides urged clearer commitments from the county regarding maintenance funding and emergency access. Several requested that any closure or alteration preserve access for the historic church and immediate residents.

What the board did: The board authorized initiation of the abandonment process (not a final abandonment). The chair said a public hearing will be scheduled for the May 7 meeting and that the county will notify abutting property owners directly. Commissioners noted that initiating the process does not bind a final outcome and that several options — including maintaining portions for future use or returning the road to private control — remain on the table.

Next steps: The board will publish notice and mail direct notifications ahead of the May 7 meeting, collect public input at that hearing, and then take further action consistent with state law and counsel guidance.