Residents' concerns dominate agenda

The Marshall County Board of Supervisors heard a number of citizen’s concerns at the Aug. 21 board meeting.

First up was Christine Vanelli, who owns a 120-acre farm in the area of Beverly Lane and Humphrey Road. She is seeking an easement through a subdivision. She said an easement used by the prior owners for over 100 years may be contested.

The subdivision was built in 2002 by John Woods, developer.

She said a lot in the subdivision gave an easement to the farm.

District 3 supervisor Keith Taylor asked if there was an agreement by the previous owner of the land, would it not be carried over with the property when it sold.

District 1 supervisor Charles Terry said the easement was not the problem but a subdivision ordinance that prohibits a property owner from attaching a lot to a platted subdivision may be a problem.

“Was it before the ordinance was changed to not allow anyone to add on to a subdivision?” he asked.

Board attorney Amanda Whaley Smith said the new ordinance restricting a property owner from adding on to a subdivision road is not that old.

“It’s a working farm,” Vanelli said.

Later on Vanelli may want to add a wedding venue on the property, she said.

Supervisors discussed the location of her property down to the end of Beverly Lane on the left.

Taylor quipped he knew exactly the location because he tried to get a contract on the property when he had to sell his house to make way for construction of I-269 in the Byhalia area.

“Woods eventually denied them access to their farm,” he said.

Terry wondered if it is possible to give Vanelli a permit. She wants to let her daughter build a house on the farm, as well, he said.

Smith said Vanelli is just asking for access to a county road.

Terry sought more information regarding specifications before a vote is taken in case Vanelli wants to build more than two houses on the property later.

Willie Rhodes asked the board to do something to slow speeding on DeSoto Road to make the community safe.

He said his father lived on the property in 1942 when the road was just a wagon trail and it remained a dirt road until 1953. Now the road is graveled and white-rocked. There are four new subdivisions on the road, he said.

The speed limit is 40 miles per hour, but he said it may as well be 65 mph because of the motorists.

Rhodes is retired and keeps his frontage clean of litter. County road manager Mario Jeffries provided reflective vests for him to wear.

In July, two pedestrians were struck, one pet was killed and four mailboxes were hit along DeSoto Road. Rhodes asked for either patrolling or speed humps to make the road safe for pedestrians and children.

There is a blind spot over the hill where the Head Start bus stops to pick up children. He said a “Children at Play” sign near Cedar Crest subdivision over the hill is being ignored by motorists.

Now the area also has joggers, motorbikes, pedestrians and golf carts in the road, he said.

With three board members present - Terry, Taylor, and George Zinn III, the board approved a motion to put speed humps on DeSoto Road.

Anthony and Bobbi Howell appealed a denial of a request for rezoning by the planning commission. They want to have property they own taken out of Olive Branch East Subdivision to rezone for commercial use.

The property, about 9.5 acres (eight lots), would be rezoned for use for a gas and diesel station.

Taylor said to have lots removed from a subdivision, a chancery judge has to be involved and Smith agreed.

Zoning director Ken Jones said the original rule was no commercial property in a subdivision.

Taylor made a motion to deny the Howell’s appeal “so they can move on” to chancery court to seek relief.

Supervisors recommended the appeal of a rezoning of property for a Planned Unit Development be reset because the developer canceled at the last minute, citing illness, and because two supervisors were also out due to illness or doctor’s visits.

The PUD was denied by a vote of 3-1 at a recent planning commission meeting after citizens complained the PUD would change the character of the neighborhood. The appeal was bumped up to the September 18 meeting.