A resolution to close a portion of Lynn Road failed Tuesday night after much discussion and input from residents on the road. 

At the County Commission meeting Tuesday night, a resolution was presented that would close a portion of Lynn Road and build a turnaround in an attempt to keep traffic from turning in people’s driveways. This request was made by Steve Carroll. The resolution stated, “A request has been made to close a portion of Lynn Road. This portion shall consist of the final 1,400 feet of Lynn Road as listed on the Warren County Road List; and whereas the applicant, Steve Carroll, has offered to construct a segment of roadway at the end of the public road for the purpose of providing an area for vehicles to turn around and that this turn around shall be constructed at the applicant’s sole expense and the satisfaction and approval of Warren County.”

This proposal has been denied three times already - twice in a Highway and Bridge Committee meeting and once in a Planning Commission meeting when no one made a motion. It was originally approved in a Planning Commission meeting when no residents showed up to voice opposition. Since then, residents on Lynn Road have been vocal that they do not want the road closed. 

During public comment, Steve Carroll's son, Chase Carroll, made a presentation on why they want the road closed and where the proposed turnaround would go. He and his family own approximately 70 acres at the end of Lynn Road. He says the road currently dead ends into the middle of their property. 

“Some of the issues we have is Lynn Road currently does not have a turnaround. It dead ends and it is only 14-feet wide so that means anyone who travels down that road must trespass on our property to actually leave the neighborhood. When doing so, travelers usually cause damage when turning around on our property. They trespass and we have also had a few safety concerns with my wife being threatened on two different occasions and harassed. She has been told a young lady like herself shouldn’t be outside alone and she has been asked where we store guns in our homes. It has now caused a safety concern for us living at the end of the road,” said Carrol. 

Carroll says they are the last residents on the road and get the full brunt of traffic. He says this is not a new issue. Carroll stated the previous owner of the property also had issues with people coming on his property. Carroll said, “So it does not feel like an issue unless you live at the end of the road and bear the full brunt of all the issues that are happening.” 

He proposed two solutions. One would be fencing the entirety of Lynn Road and not providing a turn around. Carroll said this way anyone who drives down the road would have to back out 1,500 feet and turn around in the neighbors' driveways.

“We do not want that to happen. We do not want our neighbors to have the same issues we have been dealing with. The second alternative is to relocate the dead end of Lynn Road. We will build a turnaround on our expense and we believe this is the best solution for all parties involved,” said Carroll.

Carroll said they are willing to compromise and offered a new proposal where they would build the turnaround further into their property than previously proposed.  Lynn Road resident Rodney Wright spoke next and said he did not want the road to close because taxpayers paid for it. 

“I have lived there since 1973 and I have lived there longer than any resident on Lynn Road. It was once a gravel road until just a few years ago when the taxpayers of Warren County paid to have this road paved, not just someone who moved here a few years ago,” said Wright. “This is our road, it is not their road. These people want to take a beautiful county road and turn it into a private driveway.”

Wright says he lives in the first house on Lynn Road and gets the “brunt of all the traffic.” He said vehicles turning around in driveways has never been an issue for any other residents until now. Wright also addressed the gate the Carrolls have reportedly put on the roadway. 

“If you have not been down Lynn Road to see for yourself, make no mistake the Carrolls have already built a fence, erected posts and put up a gate to block off the road. There are also some intimidating signs posted on these posts saying, ‘private property,’ ‘dead end,’ etc. These signs need to be removed,” he said. 

Wright said this is the fifth meeting regarding the road closure proposal. He said by discussing it again Tuesday night they were wasting taxpayers’ money again. 

“We, the residents of Lynn Road, are opposed to closing any portion of Lynn Road. If these folks are concerned about vehicles turning around in their driveway, a turnaround should be built toward the end of the road on their property. There is a wide open field with plenty of space that is owned by the Carrolls. This will prevent vehicles from using their driveway. Closing any portion of this road has nothing to do with improving the safety of the neighborhood. It is strictly self-interest on behalf on the Carroll family. There is absolutely no reason to close any portion of this road,” said Wright. 

Lynn Road resident Ali Fults also expressed her opposition to the road being closed. She says her neighbors feel like family and the neighborhood felt like a community up until recently. 

“We have always rallied around each other in situations and can rely on each other. Within the past four years there has been a change on our road. We were deemed as unsafe individuals and a fence has been installed with parts of it over my property line with signs that read, ‘private property,’ ‘no trespassing,’ ‘violators will be prosecuted.’ Several of you commissioners have been down our road and can see with your own eyes how intimidating it can be,” said Fults. 

Fults said the fence is currently right at her driveway and forces traffic to turn around in her driveway. She said, “This proposal has been denied over three times now by the road department and commissioners, but we keep revisiting it. The proposal has always been to shut down the road, not for a turnaround. The new proposal for the turnaround will affect my family directly because it will still force the newly created traffic to turnaround in my yard or driveway. This I feel will affect the way the entire road works, not just my house. The residents of Lynn Road have all spoken in protest against all proposals to shut down the road and for the turnaround.”

Commissioner Ron Lee asked Fults what harm the road closure and the turnaround would do to her. Fults explained it would cause traffic to turn around in her driveway. Lee said he meant what harm would the new proposal that would put the turnaround 150 feet from her property line cause her. County Executive Terry Bell interjected and said the resolution they are voting on says 1,400 feet of Lynn Road would be closed. The resolution is not for the new proposal Carroll presented at the meeting Tuesday night. 

“I was just going by what they were showing,” said Lee. “If it was closed and if it was built in a way a good circle was built in, what harm does that do to your family and your neighbors?” 

“If it is going to be where it is proposed, it is right at the edge of my driveway,” said Fults. 

“That is not our resolution. That is not the resolution that is written up,” said Commissioner Cole Taylor. “It is at 1,400 feet. If that comes out at the end of her driveway and we vote for that, it means that is where it will go no matter what that picture shows. From what I have seen, if we vote on this it will be 1,400 feet.” 

Before voting on the resolution, Commissioner Steven Helton said if there were safety issues on the road, he would ask the Sheriff’s Department how many times they are called out there. He also said he could not support this resolution due to there being three parcels of land on that property. Commissioner Carlene Brown said the resolution is different than what was proposed during the meeting. 

“This resolution is different from the updated proposal,” said Brown. “However if we vote on the resolution, it still does not address the updated proposal on where he wants to put the turnaround.”

Commissioner Brad Hillis said, “I think there are a lot of people who are trying to understand the Carrol family point of view and we can all understand the neighbor’s point of view, but as commissioners we have a responsibility to look to the future. Years down the road if this property were to sell for some reason, there is a slim chance it would all sell to one owner,” said Hillis. “Then people will have the ability to try to land-lock other people. They would come back to us and we would be kicking this can again.” 

Lee then asked if they were able to amend the resolution. Bell said they have the authority to do so. Commissioner Gary Prater called for question, meaning there could be no more discussion on this resolution. Lee then made a motion to amend the resolution, “to remove the 1,400 feet that has no bearing here. The bearing is the property corner of the Northcutts, the Fults and the Carrolls.”

Before voting on the amendment, Bell explained, “You are voting to remove the 1,400 and install 150 feet from the property line of Ali Fults.”

The amendment failed 16-7. The seven commissioners voting in favor of the amendment were Lee, Steve Glenn, James Hines, Gary Martin, Scott Kelly, Cam Montgomery and Tommy Savage. 

When the commissioners voted on the original resolution to close a portion of Lynn Road and construct a turnaround, it failed 6-17. Commissioners who voted to close the road were James Hines, Scott Kelly, Ron Lee, Gary Martin, Cam Montgomery and Tommy Savage. Commissioners who voted to keep it open were Michael Bell, Carl Bouldin, Carlene Brown, Charles Dotson, Randy England, Steve Glenn, Steven Helton, Brad Hillis, Kasey Owens, Gary Prater, Chris Rippy, Christy Ross, Scott Rubley, Donna Smith, Philip Stout, Cole Taylor and Blaine Wilcher. Commissioner Kenny Moffitt was absent.