Polk County Commissioners got some reassurance this week on their decision to approve a resolution supporting the paving of a portion of River Road connecting the Morgan Chapel Bridge and Golden Road.

Commissioners met Monday, May 4 and heard only positive comments in favor of the paving during public comments after hearing only negative comments during the April 20 meeting.

Glenn Burgess said he measured the section as 600 feet, which will cost the state $25,000, which is nothing. Burgess said he stayed at the section about an hour recently watching the traffic. He said 90 percent of the traffic stayed on the pavement and about 10 percent went the other way.

“Each time with my condition I couldn’t breathe,” said Burgess. “You could write your name anywhere you wanted to in the dust. I would like somebody to put the fire under this and get it done. If you don’t have your health you don’t have anything.”

Burgess also said there are potholes and he’s ashamed of it.

Frances Parker said she and her husband live on River Road and are in favor of the paving. She said she knows some people are concerned paving will encourage speeding but there’s not enough length to speed. Parker said she appreciates the commissioners approving the resolution in support as she views it as a win/win for everyone.

Larry Hodge said he lives on Morgan Chapel Road and owns River Road property and he’s not in favor of paving River Road but is in favor of connecting Morgan Chapel and Golden roads. Besides the problems with dust, Hodge said another problem is people driving circles in that area and if it’s paved he doesn’t think they would do that. Hodge said every time he gets his car detailed he faces dust and potholes. He said he mows grass along River Road and knows what dust can do to someone.

“It’s 600 feet and it’s no big deal,” Hodge said. “I can’t understand what the problem is, I really can’t. It’s just common sense to me.”

Clint Blanton said he’s also in favor of paving the small section of River Road. Blanton mentioned the Budweiser Clydesdale horses that paraded through Landrum last week and asked what those horses had on their feet to walk down the street, saying people against the paving should ask the Clydesdale folks what they use for their horses to walk on pavement.

Commissioner Michael Gage read a letter from resident and former commissioner Renée McDermott who said she doesn’t understand the outrage over paving the small section of road. There have been full voice promises not to pave all of River Road, said McDermott and paving the 1/10 of a mile would be a great help to the rest of the community. She said paving the section would relieve neighbors of dust problems, eliminate young people doing donuts as well as eliminate erosion and sedimentation into the Pacolet River. McDermott said when she served as commissioner she frequently had people ask to pave that section of River Road.

During the county’s April 20 meeting, commissioners heard 11 residents speak against paving the section of road. Residents against the paving said the gravel road deters traffic and speeding and is for the safety of horses.

Commissioners approved a resolution in support of the N.C. Department of Transportation paving the section, which would connect the already paved Morgan Chapel Road at the bridge and Golden Road. Commissioner Shane Bradley was the only commissioner not to support the resolution.

DOT engineer Steve Cannon attended the April 20 meeting saying the state has received several requests to pave the section and plans to leave a wide section on one side unpaved for horses and carriages to continue to ride safely.

Polk County approved a resolution in 1997 requesting DOT not pave River Road. The current board of commissioners included in their April 20 resolution portions of the 1997 resolution stating that it is still the county’s intent not to pave other sections of River Road. Cannon also said the state already has rights of way for the section of River Road from the recent bridge project.

Cannon said the state is not looking at any other sections in that area to pave and without petitions and rights of way from property owners the state would not consider any other sections.

The paving project is expected to begin within a year.