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Jones Co. homeowners seek to make road private

Drivers unaware of the dead-end have fallen into a ditch or hit people's pets

Homeowners are worried about the traffic on a Jones County road and they want commissioners to do something about it. 

Watson Drive is a public road just off of Highway 49. Some neighbors say turning it into a private road is for the better.

If you're cruising down Watson Drive, at first glance it seems like any other road, but homeowner Rebecca Frazier says there are some hidden dangers. 

"If you don't know that it's a dead end, you are very likely to go into a 12-15 foot drop," said Frazier. 

Neighbors say making the road private will stop drivers who speed down the road and get stuck in the ditch. 

"They'll speed down it and not care what they hit or who they hit," said Frazier. 

Commissioners got a letter from some neighbors saying, "There has been an increase in traffic that has resulted in animal injuries."

"One of the smaller dogs actually got hit and it broke his back leg," said Frazier. 

Over at the government center, Jones County Administrator Jason Rizner says there are a few steps to take if the county abandons the road. 

"That involves a public notice in the newspaper and a public hearing where the residents that live there or any others could come and express their views," said Rizner. 

He says the county hasn't done any substantial maintenance on the road in about 10 years, so making it a private road is something they may consider. 

Frazier says five generations of family have lived on it and want to keep it safe. 

"Ensuring that the heritage continues to be there for the grandchildren and the great-grandchildren and so it's just making sure it's safe for the family," said Frazier. 

Homeowners and other neighbors plan on voicing their concerns at a commissioner's meeting on Feb. 5 at 6 p.m. in the Government Center on Industrial Boulevard.

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