Several generations of a Pearl River County family attended the Board of Supervisors meeting Wednesday to advocate for the abandonment of a county road.
The Board opened the floor to comments from the Spence family, of Jesse Spence Road, and Jimmy Stockstill who owns land bordering the road.
The Spence family submitted a petition to abandon the half-mile road that extends from Bouie Road in Carriere. Members of the family told the Board they used that road as a private driveway until the county paved it at the request of the school district.
It was unclear when the road was paved and included in the county road map.
The land was later divided into several pieces of property and given to other generations of the Spence family.
Due to the family’s history on that property, they petitioned the Board to make the road private again and return it to its original purpose.
Jimmy Stockstill said he purchased the property on the corner of Jesse Spence and Bouie roads about three years ago in the belief that it had access to Jesse Spence Road.
Stockstill said he plans to develop the land and build several homes on the property. That investment could increase tax revenue in the county, he said.
Members of the Spence family objected, saying Stockstill’s property does not join the road and is accessible from Bouie Road.
Board Attorney Joe Montgomery said that because the county doesn’t have a deed to that land, it will be difficult to determine where the easement ends, and where the county’s interest lies.
Board President Sandy Kane Smith said the Board didn’t have enough information to make a decision on the matter at this time.
The Board voted unanimously to enlist County Engineer Les Dungan to determine the county’s interest in that road and take the matter under advisement.
In other matters, the Board discussed changes to the operation of the county fairgrounds in Poplarville.
Frank Graves, manager of the fairgrounds, spoke with the Board about assigning a schedule for groups to use the facility.
Due to the number of rodeo competitors in the area, the Board thought assigning a schedule of who can use the facility on any given night would ease tensions.
The Board voted to approve the change, and a sign will be posted at the facility describing the new schedule and how to make a reservation.
More information from Wednesday’s meeting will be published in Friday’s Item.