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Franklin County man wants road closed

By Josh Ault  bio|e-mail

THARPTOWN, AL (WAFF) - A Franklin County man wants a road on his property closed.  He believes the road belongs to him, but county administrators are confident the road belongs to them.

Saxton Road is a dirt road in the Tharptown Community.  There are no homes along a one mile section of the road, only cattle grazing in pastures.

The land surround this portion of the road belongs to Benny Hamilton.

"I want to close it," said Hamilton, a Russellville resident, "I have so much trouble with thieves and vandals.  (They) killed my cattle."

Three of Hamilton's cow have been killed by unknown suspects.  Recently vehicles he had parked on his property were vandalized.  The vehicles had their windows busted out, and rims stolen.  The thieves were nice enough to leave the vehicles on cinder blocks.

Hamilton things more damage is going to be done if this road is not closed.  He has taken his concerns to the county commission.

"I showed them," said Hamilton, "The commissioner said he saw no reason that it could not be closed."

"Just keep vandals off of it," said Alex Hamilton, Benny's son, "There is no reason for anyone to be over here."

WAFF 48 took Hamilton's concerns to the Franklin County Probate Judge, Barry Moore.  He said Hamilton tried to make the road private a year ago, but residents who lived around the road signed a petition, and the commission voted against it.

Moore says Hamilton can request closing it as many times as he wants.

Hamilton says more damage like this will continue to happen if nothing is done.

County crews have been taking care of Saxton Road for more than 20 years.  Judge Moore says he is going to make sure the road does belong to the county.

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