[7/21/03]Residents of a private drive off Grange Hall want the City of Vicksburg to take over the road in hopes it will be improved and better maintained.

Blue Creek Road is among the streets and roads taken into the city limits when Vicksburg annexed 21.5 square miles in 1990.

“The road needs to be paved or at least graded regularly to keep potholes from developing,” said James Snell, 50, who has lived there for three years. If we pay higher taxes, why can’t we get the same treatment?” Snell asked.

“A lot of residents on Blue Creek Road have been calling City Hall wanting something to be done about conditions on their road,” said Bubba Rainer, director of Public Works. “However, (city workers) can’t maintain Blue Creek Road because it is a private road.”

There are 27 mobile homes on Blue Creek Road, but six of those appear to be vacant. The narrow gravel road also is littered with potholes and dips that make driving on it difficult.

South Ward Alderman Sid Beauman, in whose district Blue Creek lies, said he is aware of the situation.

“We have been working on Blue Creek Road for about a year,” Beauman said. “They do have a lot of problems, but Pete Buford would have to bring the road up to city standards for us to acquire it.” Buford, the road’s developer, refused comment.

City Attorney Nancy Thomas, too, said it is Buford’s responsibility to deal with the problems.

“Our main concern is public safety and that these people (on Blue Creek Road) have that fire safety,” Thomas said. “The residents out there need fire hydrants and a loop added on the road so that firetrucks could get out if need be.”

Residents had planned to go to a city meeting, but decided against it.

“The administration talked with the residents prior to the city board meeting, and we explained to them that it was a private road,” Beauman said. “The residents have been briefed about their options. Hopefully, there is something in their contract with Pete Buford about what they can do.”

“Residents can petition the city to take over a road,” Thomas said. “If the road is in a state of disrepair, the city won’t take the road. The city typically doesn’t take roads that can’t meet city’s specifications.”

“The road would have to be paved and supplied with gutters for the city to acquire it,” Rainer said. “After these standards are met, the residents must dedicate the road to the city. However, the exact cost of bringing Blue Creek Road to city standards involves a lot of figures, such as pavement and so forth.”

“It would be against the law for the city to even touch the road” because it is privately owned, he said.

The situation is not unique. Other residents of privately owned drives are also caught in the public-private maintenance dilemma.

“There have been discussions about Hilda Marie Drive,” Thomas said. “The city was also in the process of acquiring Miller Street during a previous administration.”

E-911 address coordinator Kenny Staggs said Vicksburg has 57 private roads and Warren County has 250.