County agrees to pave roads

Although no official vote was taken, the Escambia County (Ala.) Commission agreed to resurface a portion of Country Road 6 (Wolf Log Road) and Traveler’s Rest Cemetery Road while work crews are in the area resurfacing Upper Creek Road.

Commissioner Scottie Stewart and Larry White, who defeated Stewart to win the Republican Primary for the District 3 seat on the board, both addressed the commission.

Tuesday was likely Stewart’s last commission meeting as the District 3 representative and White will likely take over that seat with no opposition in the November General Election.

“I commend Commissioner Stewart for corresponding on an issue of common concern,” White said. “It’s a road project he’s been working on.”

White noted that Traveler’s Rest and County Road 6 where scheduled to be repaved during the 2021-2022 budget but due to budget constraints those two roads were eliminated. White said Stewart did use some of his discretionary funds to complete the funding for the resurfacing of Upper Creek Road.

White told the commission it would be foolish to pull out of that area while work is being done on Upper Creek Road.

White noted the price could go up by about 25 percent if the county moved its equipment away from the area and came back later to do those two roads when the equipment is close by now.

White suggested the county use funds from the 2022-2023 budget to complete Traveler’s Rest and County Road 6 before leaving the area.

Stewart said he received telephone calls from State Rep. Alan Baker who received calls from residents along that road complaining that the projects were dropped.

“I hate Rep. Baker had to get involved but people called him when they felt they couldn’t get any resolution from me or the commission,” Stewart said. “I thank Larry for coming but he shouldn’t have had to.”

Stewart noted that Traveler’s Rest had been prepped for resurfacing.

“I suggested Rep. Baker call Larry to have him here today,” Stewart said.

Stewart thanked White for coming to the meeting and told his fellow commissioners there was no reason to not complete the two road projects.

“It will be a benefit to the county and the citizens,” Stewart said.

Commission Chairman Raymond Wiggins said Rep. Baker had called him also with the same concern.

Stewart said the cost of paving or repaving roads has about doubled in the last 14 to 15 months due to increased costs in asphalt, fuel and other items. He said Traveler’s Rest and County Road 6 were in the budget for last year but once other projects were completed there was no money left.

“You can’t anticipate things doubling in price,” Stewart said.

Stewart said resurfacing a 7-mile road 14 to 15 months ago would cost about $720,000 but that same road would cost $1.4 million today.

Stewart said the resurfacing of Upper Creek Road should start Monday and agreed the other two roads needed to be resurfaced while crews were in the area.

“I appreciate Larry showing up to show his support,” Stewart said.

Wiggins said no action needed to be taken by the commission to proceed with paving the two roads but all commissioners nodded yes when Wiggins asked if that was what they wanted to do.