I certainly agree with the governor too!  Who ever heard of the county or state maintaining private property.  These people need to get together find out the cost of repairs and divide it up equally.  Seems these days everyone is looking for a hand out.  Its time that people learn to take care of their own responsibilities.

Amen hglass911! Our society has become such a monstrosity with the “gimme attitude.” Everyone feels they are “entitled” to something. Perhaps, they will look at the suggestions posted by many on this thread and fix their problem on the private road. Once again, private means just that-YOUR responsibility.

Grand Farms West, and about 1/4 of Grand Farms East, should have been county maintained years ago, and would have been, but at that time the neighbors would not all agree to give the county a right-a-way. Ask some of the people that live there, a grant WAS issued in the past. Then they came in and dug these HUGE 8 foot ditches on both sides of the road, and everyone started raising cane, because they were so deep and dangerous. But, had everyone signed into the agreement at the time, it would be still maintained today. However, they made them come and fill in the ditches, and nothing was done since. As far as Iris Drive, and Grand Farms North, those who live there should contact the person who sold that land to them, if I’m not mistaken, that land was sold by the Scruggs, and Steven and Diana Morgan. There should have been a Home Owners Association agreement signed when the land was purchased. If not everyone will work together, you should up and move, We did. 

I live on a PRIVATE DIRT ROAD, and WE MAINTAIN OUR OWN road. If the people who live on this road do not want to pay for the costs associated with a PRIVATE road, then they should determine whether or not the county or city or whatever government entity can ANNEX the road. If you want to live on a PRIVATE ROAD you should PAY to MAINTAIN it. The solution to their problem is a few loads of gravel (to fill the holes). Perhaps the RESIDENTS of this PRIVATE ROAD should get together and see if the county will sell them gravel at a discount to repair the road. I don’t live in Mobile County, but I think people need to stop depending on others to come up with solutions to THEIR problems.

But if the state was to pay for this one road, which is private to be paved, they would have to pay for EVERY road that is labeled private to be paved. That includes driveways that people name after themselves. I would like to know HOW it is determined which roads are private and which are not. That is where I would start. Perhaps there is an application process to change the road from being private to county maintained? I don’t know, but I think more research needs to be done, to find out all the Why’s and How’s before demanding the government pay for it.

Another suggestion...get some dirt hauled in and have someone with a box blade smooth it out. Also, recycled asphalt and oyster shells help with washing out. Perhaps some of the seafood places in the Bayou could donate some truckloads of shell? These are things that we have done on our dirt driveway, which is by the way a quarter mile long, but NOT a private road. I will not be seeking govt. assistance to pave it. lol

There are roads all over Mobile County that are labeled private roads. Look in the map book, you will see private road such and such, or a named road with an asterick indicating it is a private road. I don’t know who decides whether a road is considered “private” or not, but I do know when you choose to live on a private road, you are agreeing to the terms. That means the road owner, or the homeowners maintain it.  There are plenty of roads around the county that get their mail at the end of the road, and their children get on the bus at the end of the road. This community is not alone. Perhaps someone should look at the original plat and research why it was deemed a private road to begin with. Then take the concerns to the road and bridge department.

My road, which was a county maintained dirt road, was on some arbitrary list, for about 15 years before it was ever paved. I now wish at times, that it was still dirt. continued…

I know what you are going through I lived on dirt road that was just as bad. It took years to finally get the road paved but it cost us to maintain until we got it done. We went to road and bridge meetings until we got heard and got them to at least grade the road and wait for grants from the county. Do you really think it is fair to people that dont live on dirt roads to pay for your road to be fixed? I know it is hard to live this way I did for 8yrs we lost our mail service and other services because the holes were as big or bigger.

see i dont under stand why we can’t use tax payers money. we pay our taxes. Mike dean can use it to pay off personal loans with it.  Also this road was here beore 1984 and it is suppose to be county maintaned but Mike dean won’t do it. And he said he would but he is a lier.  This all come down to what is the law and what the county refuses to do. The county Attorney even said that this road can be grand fathered in but nobody is doing nothingout it.

Well this road is suppose to be county maintained but the county screwed up. we want what is legal by law. why dont you drive your but down here and drive down it. A 17 yr old boy died because of this road and we cant get trash pck up or mail or have our kids get on the bus in front of our homes. So until you live on this road shut your mouth. why dont you pay for it to get fixed sence you think you are right.

If the county does pave those streets, I want a new driveway. Hey, I pay taxes too. If the county will pave thier private property, then I want mine done. Why don’t the people that live there find the owner of the road, and make them take care of it. If the road is owned by the homeowners, then why don’t they all get together and fix the road together.
I agree 100% with the governor.