With four citizens in opposition of the Powell Road closure, county leaders denied the petition to close the road during its Monday board meeting.
Shirley Robinson, along with three others, appeared before the Yazoo County Board of Supervisors with their concerns over the potential closure of Powell Road.
“We are concerned about the closure of Powell Road because on that road there is a burial ground,” Robinson said. “We need access to the road to get to the burial ground.”
With Double Springs Cemetery located on the road, Robinson submitted a three-page petition of other residents and landowners who wished to keep the road open to the public. While attending a funeral at the cemetery last January, Robinson said she noticed signage announcing the closure of the road.
“We are just trying to find out what the problem is and why a public road is closed with access to the burial ground,” Robinson said. “There is something across the road with a sign saying that the road is closed. Many people just assume the whole road is closed.”
Jim Warrington, county road manager, said the bridge on Powell Road is closed to traffic. He added that the road is closed to through traffic, not local traffic.
“But there are people who live on the road also,” Robinson said. “The sign could at least be at the bridge.”
Jack Willingham, emergency management director, said the signage is also a safety precaution.
“People have to be warned ahead of time, but maybe the sign could say the bridge is out or closed to through traffic.”
Mike Jarvis, a property owner in the area, said he is in favor of closing Powell Road. He said he has maintained the roadway near his property and trimmed trees for over ten years. He also said access to the cemetery could be gained from Breakwater Road.
“People coming down Graball to the bridge dump trash, and I have to clean it up,” Jarvis said. “You can go through the Breakwater side…so you can get to the cemetery. I have talked to other landowners who are fine with it being closed. They don’t want the through traffic.”
Jarvis added that there have also been problems with theft, and many landowners would like to secure their property.
“We all go out there periodically to take care of the cemetery,” Robinson replied. “We appreciate what you are doing…”
Supervisor Willie Wright said the board is limited to what it can do about the bridge being closed since it was implemented by the federal government. But he would like to also keep the road itself open to the public.
Supervisor Jayne Dew also said if the road remains open, bridge repairs are not feasible for possibly several years.
“The bridge is closed…but if we don’t close the road it might be several years in finances to build that bridge back,” Dew said. “It’s not economically feasible for us. I just want you to be aware that if the road stays open, it will be awhile before we can get to that bridge.”
Robinson said she understood Dew’s remarks, but she would still like for the road to remain open.
“It has been the action of this board, typically, that even if only one objects, we won’t close the road,” said Supervisor Cobie Collins.
The county board denied the petition to close Powell Road.
