COLUMBUS– After months of discussion, Columbus Town Council decided to pave a portion of Gary Street.

The town has been discussing the possibility of paving the town-owned, unopened street, located in the Holly Hill Subdivision off Peniel Road in order to fix a drainage issue.

Columbus Town Council met Dec. 15 and after a lengthy discussion decided to pave an 8 foot by 165 foot section of Gary Street.

The town was originally asked to pave a portion of Gary Street because of an erosion problem. Complaints from nearby residents were also part of the discussion for months because only one home fronts Gary Street. The town discovered in November it does own the street and is responsible for maintaining it. In November, council decided to get an expert opinion from an engineer regarding how to handle the drainage/erosion problem.

The engineer suggested the town place a speed hump where Gary Street becomes Catherine Street but some council members disagreed that would stop the erosion problem.

Rodney McKaig, who owns the only house on Gary Street where  the water is already off the road. He said the water runs down the grass then crosses back over into the town street, which is also in his driveway. He said the water is not where the engineer decided a speed bump needs to go.

Columbus Mayor Eric McIntyre said then the town doesn’t need a speed bump, it needs a ditch.

After some back and forth in regards to whether the town should continue to maintain gravel along the road or pave the road, councilman Josh Denton said this has been going on for 10 years.

“Whether we pave it or gravel it, let’s just make a motion and be done with it,” Denton said.

McIntyre said if the town takes the ditch to the edge of the property then the town should eliminate what is causing the problem.

The erosion is occurring from the town’s water draining into McKaig’s driveway during rains.

Denton has said all along that he thinks it will be cheaper for the town to go ahead and pave the road instead of continuously laying gravel, which also includes labor costs.

Councilwoman Margaret Metcalf said she agrees with Denton.

“It’s been going on way too long,” said Metcalf.

McKaig said he will be responsible for his driveway up to the road and will pave it. He also said he will get a yellow line drawn between the town’s paving and his so the town will know which part is theirs.

Columbus had previously received estimates that a 16 foot wide, 165 foot long section of paving would cost $4,668.

“It’s our responsibility,” Metcalf said. “I think we need to go ahead and bite the bullet and pave it. That will take care of the problem.”

Town manager Tim Barth said the ditch should take care of most of the water coming down the hill.

Councilman Richard Hall said a former mayor (Ted Owens) said the town was going to pave the road years ago but the homeowner was against it.

“Now we have a homeowner requesting it,” Hall said.

Council approved a motion to dig a ditch as well as pave a portion of Gary Street measuring 8 feet by 165 feet. McKaig agreed to use the same company as the town to pave the other side of the road. The town estimates its portion of the paving to be less than $3,000 based on the previous estimates.