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Residents press council to restore Bailey Lane bridge; city says attorney will review property and easement issues
Summary
Residents urged Mexico Beach council to pursue restoring a removed golf-cart/pedestrian bridge between Joe Drive and Bailey Lane and suggested eminent domain; staff and the mayor said the removal was at the property owner's request and the matter has been turned over to the city attorney for legal review of deeds, easements and possible acquisition.
Residents told the council April 28 that the dismantled bridge linking Joe Drive and Bailey Lane disrupts a commonly used route to City Hall and neighborhood amenities and urged the city to seek a long-term fix, including potential purchase or eminent-domain action.
Chandler Touchton, a resident who spoke from the podium, said the bridge served daily pedestrian and golf-cart traffic to City Hall and asked the council to consider using eminent domain to replace the bridge. "That bridge is used by a lot of different people," Touchton said, and he urged the council to act because many residents rely on the crossing for safe access.
Maggie Richmond said her public-record research shows much of Bailey Lane has not been formally platted or dedicated to the city and that Joe Drive is owned and controlled under an exclusive easement by the Saint Joe Company, which restricts through traffic to Ocean Plantation residents and other limited uses. Richmond told council members the absence of formal dedication creates a legal and planning gap the city must resolve before restoring public access.
The mayor and staff said the city received a call from a property owner who asked that the bridge be removed due to liability concerns; staff removed the structure but immediately referred the issue to the city attorney for legal review. "We turned that over to our attorney," the mayor said, adding that the city would not resolve complex property and easement questions at the dais that day.
What happens next: staff and the city attorney will research deeds, easements and any necessary dedication steps and report back to council. Staff noted the city can lawfully access the corridor for public utilities in some deeds, but full roadway dedication and transfer of ownership would require additional legal work and negotiations.
The council and staff acknowledged the emotional and practical importance of restoring the crossing for nearby residents but emphasized that legal clarity is needed before committing to construction or acquisition.
