Arguing that it could set a poor precedent, Hamilton County commissioners narrowly denied a request by residents of a Montlake subdivision to accept Terrace Falls Drive as a county road, with an official stating that the roadway doesn’t meet existing county standards.
The margin was 6-5 with Commissioners Warren Mackey, D-Lake Vista; David Sharpe, D-Red Bank; Jeff Eversole, R-Ooltewah; Steve Highlander, R-Ooltewah; Ken Smith, R-Hixson; and Joe Graham, R-Lookout Valley, voting against acceptance of the road. Doing so would have required the Hamilton County Highway Department to operate and maintain the street and right-of-way.
Highlander said he empathizes with both sides of the argument, adding that five subdivisions in his district had similar requests denied because roads didn’t meet specifications.