Bryan County Homeowners Unhappy About Easement
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Bryan County Homeowners Unhappy About Easement...
They've worked for years to make their yards just right. Now folks in one neighborhood say the county is trying to dig up part of their happy home just to clean up a drainage ditch.
Strathy Hall Estates homeowner Raymond Gravley said he was surprised at the 35 foot easement Bryan County crews marked in his backyard as they worked to clear a drainage ditch. He was told to take down his fence so the trucks could get through.
BRYAN COUNTY, Ga.—Work to clear a drainage ditch has homeowners in one Bryan County neighborhood upset. They aren’t unhappy about the work itself. They said they’re unhappy because they say the county is taking part of their property to perform the work.
Some homeowners in the Strathy Hall Estates neighborhood are questioning a 35 foot easement from the center of the drainage ditch to their property.
“It just shocks me you know, for 25 years it wasn’t a problem and then all of a sudden we’ve got a problem,“ said homeowner Raymond Gravley.
Gravley was surprised at the 35 foot easement crews marked in his backyard. He was told to take down his fence so the trucks could get through.
“I’m unemployed right now and I’ve got to come up with enough money to put my own fence back up,“ said Gravley.
The county said they have a right to an easement along the ditch in question, and the work will help with drainage and lessen the mosquito population in the area..
Homeowner Lenny Resnick appreciates the ditch being cleared, but he said he was never told how big the easement was when he bought his house.
“In the plot and the deed and the letter they sent me, doesn’t say anything about taking 35 feet, which I’m upset about. If they’re going to take 35 feet, I want to be compensated,“ said Resnick.
Resnick, Gravley, and other neigbhors are upset they’ll have to foot the bill to move their fences and other backyard structures.
“They’re going to take the fence down, and they’re just going to rip it down. I would have to pay to repair it,“ said Resnick.
Some said the experience has made them question if they really want to stay here.
“I’d kind of like to live somewhere else right now,“ said Gravley.
Bryan County Engineer Kirk Croasman told News 3 the county is doing its best to work with the homeowners on this easement.
He said they will try not to use the full 35 foot easement on each property, but the county does have the right to it. Croasman said he would be happy to talk to all the homeowners and show them where the easement is marked on the maps.
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