October 26, 2022
By: Dwayne Page
Road Supervisor Danny Hale is asking the county commission to adopt a resolution establishing a requirement for those building new driveways to their properties off county roads to obtain a free permit.
During Monday night’s monthly county commission meeting, Road Supervisor Hale addressed the commission asking that he be allowed to start a permitting process requiring new driveways to have a leveled five-foot buffer from county roads. This would not apply to any existing driveways nor any along state highways.
Hale said the idea is to keep gravel on inclined driveways from washing off onto county roads after heavy rains causing safety hazards.
“We have so many driveways that are right into the side of the road that head up hill and its dangerous because after every big rain you have two or three feet of gravel out in the road. At night if you’re coming down that road and its washed that gravel out there and you’re meeting another car on that side it’s a safety hazard,” said Road Supervisor Hale.
In a prepared statement, Hale said “The DeKalb County Highway Department hereby requests the County Commission adopt a resolution requiring all residents installing a new driveway to get a driveway permit. The permit will state that all new driveways must have a minimum of 5-foot level when finished from the side of the road when the grade is higher than the road. There will be no charge for the permit, but the specs must be met when installing the new driveway. This will eliminate the washing of aggregate or debris onto a main road causing a safety hazard. The permits can be acquired at the DeKalb County Highway Department, 720 Smith Road, Smithville”.
If approved, applicants would obtain a permit at the DeKalb County Highway Department at no cost. Hale said State planner Tommy Lee of the Upper Cumberland Development District recently advised him to bring this issue to the attention of the county commission and seek approval for this permit requirement.
The county commission Monday night voted to table action on Hale’s request until a formal resolution can be prepared.