JASPER, Tenn. - Some frustrated Marion County residents want the county to help them with road problems near their homes, but that seems unlikely at this point.
Commission Chairman David Abbott said several people brought photos and questions for road superintendent Jim Hawk at last month's Marion County Commission meeting, but he wasn't there.
The board asked Hawk to appear at its April meeting to answer those questions.
Residents along a stretch of Fire Tower Road said the road has gotten so bad in recent years it tears up their vehicles as they try to navigate it each day.
"We'd love to help you out anyway," Hawk told them. "It's just [that Fire Tower Road] is not listed on the county road [list].
The road was once a path for logging trucks and equipment, he said, and it is definitely in poor condition.
"[The residents] do have a hard time getting in and out, but it's still not a county road," Hawk said. "I'm not supposed to get off the right of way. That's kind of got me hung where I just can't do much of anything."
Grundy County owns a part of the road, then a portion turns into a Marion road.
A side road leading to a nearby house is not owned by either county, though.
One resident asked what could be done to make that portion of Fire Tower Road a county road.
"This is an issue of if my children need emergency services, at this point, they would not be able to get an ambulance down there - at all," she told the board.
Commissioner Donald Blansett said the road would have to be brought up to the county's specifications before it can be considered by the board for the Marion road list.
"You'd have to fix it," he told the residents. "You'd have to put it into top shape before the county would even look at taking it over."
Hawk estimated it would cost at least $200,000 to bring the road up to those specifications.
"Right now, at this time, I don't think there's any way the county's got the money to build a road down to your [house]," he said. "Well, I know we don't."
County Attorney Billy Gouger asked who owned the road, but no one at the meeting knew the answer.
Abbott said the board would direct Gouger to find out who owns the road to give the residents a "starting point."
"I'm sorry this is not the answer you guys wanted, but at least we can have full communication to try and see what resolution can come as you move forward on finding some names out, who owns that," he said.
Ryan Lewis is based in Marion County. Contact him at ryanlewis34@gmail.com.