February 1, 2019
By: Dwayne Page
The owner of a welcome center/guardshack wants to lease from the county the property on which it stands at the entrance of Riverwatch Golf Club and Resort on Billings Road.
Terms of the lease, still to be prepared, were established and approved by the county commission Monday night.
The guardshack was erected several years ago on the Billings Road right of way (a county road) by the owners of Riverwatch Golf Club and Resort with the approval of the county road supervisor at that time. After the guardshack was erected Billings Road was widened and divided at the point where the guardshack stands. Beyond the guardshack the road forks to Hopper Ridge Road to the right and Highland Trail to the left. The guardshack basically serves as a post where security cameras monitor traffic in and out of the community. The road is not gated and no motorist is denied passage.
John Fitzmartin, the new owner of Riveratch (Final Putt LLC) addressed the county commission at a workshop last Thursday night saying he wants to sell the guardshack building to the neighboring Mountain Harbour Property Owners Association but the land on which the building stands is owned by the county and is part of the Billings Road right of way. He asked that the county resolve the land issue going forward.
In response, the county commission Monday night voted to enter into a 99 year lease with the owner of the guardshack building for one dollar a year. Other terms are that the road continue to be open to the public and not gated; that the owner provide proof of liability insurance coverage; that the guardshack be maintained for the life of the lease; and that the owner pay the county’s costs of preparing the lease.