County to improve abandoned roads

By CARRIE KIRSCHNER - The Independent

CATLETTSBURG May 07, 2008 12:13 am

— Residents of Boyd County’s partially abandoned Lakinview Heights neighborhood will finally be getting some much needed assistance from officials.
After months of denying resident requests for help, the Boyd County Fiscal Court agreed Tuesday to take emergency action to make limited improvements to two roads in the development. Commissioners unanimously approved allowing the Boyd County Road Department to level and add gravel to Tristen Way and Taylor Lane.
County officials said the continued deterioration of the roads is “a public safety issue” and are stepping in only to ensure they can be accessed by emergency vehicles in the event of an emergency.
The section of the Lakinview Heights subdivision along Tristen Way and Taylor Lane has been in limbo since the demise of the Franz Group and its various incarnations, including Tri-Level LLC and Sherwood Heights LLC.
Officials said they are unclear at this point on exactly who holds the deed to the roads or if one even exists. In the past they maintained their hands were tied to help residents because the roads were still private property.
There was some discussion about taking ownership of the road, although the court has typically resisted doing so unless roads meet their strict standards.
Residents at Tuesday’s meeting said they were just relieved to finally get some help.
“I’m just happy we’re getting gravel,” said Mary Geis, a resident on Tristen Way. She said the road is always dusty and dirty and often hard to pass during inclement weather.
“A little bit is more than nothing,” added Judy Davis, also a resident of Tristen Way.
Still residents hope for more. They’ve been promised for two years by the county that they would help them to deal with both the road and the surrounding abandoned and deteriorating houses.
Last December the county condemned and later demolished four structures along Tristen Way, which were owned by Tri-Level LLC and have liens against them with Fifth Third Bank.
Residents at Tuesday’s meeting said there are at least five additional structures in the subdivision that have continued to deteriorate and may also need to be condemned. It is unclear who holds title of those properties; at least three separate banks are believed to be involved.