Staff Report
If one travels about 1.8 miles on KY 217 from KY 988, they will come across a narrow county road called Yellow Branch. At first the road seems like any other county road, but as one continues further back into the hollow, the road turn worse. This is one of many roads that is scheduled to be paved in the spring.
“The road needs work,” said Bell County Magistrate Rick Cornett.
Bell County Judge-Executive Albey Brock stated Yellow Branch, along with several roads in the county, was slated to be paved last year but was not due to asphalt plants closing for winter.
“It will be late spring or early summer before the roads will be paved,” said Brock. “I’m presently working on prioritizing additional roads that will be paved this year. I ask the people on these roads to please be patient. We will get them done as soon as weather will allow.”
Francis Wilson, a longtime resident of Yellow Branch, stated the road has went down hill over the past eight years. Wilson stated she contacted the fiscal court several times in the past to get the road paved.
“I would like to know why they can’t keep up a county road,” said Wilson in regards to the road deteriorating over the years.
Other roads that are on the list to be paved in the spring or summer include: Smith Lane, EW Miracle, Rose Road, Arjay Hill, Arjay SM Road, Kelly Howard, Roy Sizemore and Wiser Branch. Hinkle Contracting was the company awarded the bids for paving the road.
Or maybe politics had something to do with it?