COLUMBUS– After discussing the possibility of Columbus paving a portion of Gary Street in the Holly Hills subdivision for a few months, town council decided in November to call in an expert to decide how to alleviate an erosion problem there.

During Columbus’ November meeting, council discussed the agenda item at length for the third month in a row. In the beginning, town attorney Bailey Nager said he did not find any indication that the street had been dedicated to the town.

“That being the case, it’s not a town street,” Nager said.

Nager said if it’s not a town street then it’s not the town’s right to do anything with the street.

Rodney McKaig, who lives along the section of Gary Street in question, said that portion of Gary Street was dedicated to the town in 1974. After handing the town documents, Nager said, “My mistake. I apologize.”

After seeing the documents, Nager said the streets and roadways are to be used by the public and the town agreed to maintain them.

Nager said the town has an obligation to maintain the street, meaning the town has to keep it in a condition that is reasonably passable.

Columbus Mayor Eric McIntyre said what has been brought to the town attorney’s attention is the bottom line.

They were dedicated to the town in 1974 and it’s the town’s obligation to maintain them,” said McIntyre. “Maintaining an unopened road doesn’t mean it gets paved.”

Councilman Josh Denton said he’s not advocating for either side but council’s job is to do what’s in the best interest of the town. Denton said he thinks the town needs to pave the road because he thinks it will be cheaper to pave it than to continue to pay for gravel.

“I’m not trying to pave (anybody) a driveway,” Denton said. “I’m just trying to look at what’s cheaper.”

Mark Phillips has continued to say if the town paves the street it’s going to cause more erosion.

Denton said he disagrees. He said it’s not going to make the erosion worse by paving it.

“It’s going to save money by paving this little strip,” said Denton. “We might as well pave it and be done with it.”

Public works director James Smith said it will cost between $400-$500 of gravel and a couple of man hours, or an estimated $500-$600 every time gravel is needed.

Phillips said this was brought to the town as an erosion problem and the only way to solve the erosion problem is by diverting the water.

McIntyre said he agrees, but the paper the town was handed tells council that the town is responsible for maintaining the road. The erosion is a secondary issue, he said.

Councilwoman Margaret Metcalf said if water and sewer lines run through there, it’s foolish to pave it and she doesn’t think paving the road is a good idea right now.

McKaig said he wants done with the washing out that he’s been taking care of for the past 10 years.

Council came to a consensus to call in an engineer to tell the town what to do about the erosion problem along Gary Street. After that, council will decide how to maintain the street.

Columbus Town Council is scheduled to meet again on Thursday, Dec. 15.