Friday, April 26, 2024
Frustrations with changes to a county road led a local resident to appear during the public forum of the April 25 meeting of the Coryell County Commissioners Court to voice his concerns.
James Calvery, who lives on County Road 174, said he has talked with Justin Latham, director of the county road and bridge department, and to Commissioner Kyle Matthews "about the situation on the road," adding his house "is set up about 120 feet from the road."
Calvery said his wife has undergone a liver transplant, and he is concerned that what had been a paved road is now a gravel road.
"I was told by Mr. Latham it's not in the budget to put (the road) back the way it was," he said. "My wife's health is at risk and also our quality of life. Why is it not in the budget to put a road back when it's been torn up?"
County Judge Roger Miller expressed sympathy to Calvery but said response from officials during the public forum is limited by the rules set up for the commissioners court.
"I feel for you and your wife," Miller said. "We are limited in how we can respond. Why is it not in the budget? That is not the way we set the budget up. We would need another forum to go into more details."
Calvery said he was told by Latham "we've had roads in this condition for 20 years." He noted that his property appraisal was up $312,000, and that it "doesn't make sense for the appraisal to go up like that when we can't get our roads fixed.
"I beg you - it is affecting citizens."
Matthews said he "would be happy to visit with you afterwards" and that during the meeting he was "unable to talk at length. The last message I got from Mr. Latham was when you started screaming and hollering at him - he's nobody's whipping boy."
Calvery said he just wanted action taken to resolve his concerns.
"We need something done," he said. "Why would you do something like that?"
Matthews met privately with Calvery after the commissioners court meeting to discuss the matter.
