Committee rejects ordinance to accept two private roads into county system (7–3)

Residents petitioned under county policy to have two private roads—Bellinger Bluff and Bellinger Neck—adopted into the county road inventory. Staff confirmed the petition met policy statement 17 requirements (100% signatures from the roadway) and public-works estimated long-term paving costs at about $1,300,000 for the two roads and a separate five- to seven-year stormwater estimate of roughly $20,000.

Committee members debated consistency with prior denials and broader fiscal implications of absorbing private roads into county maintenance programs. Some members opposed accepting additional private roads because of the scale of need across Bluffton and elsewhere; others suggested revisiting policy to ensure equitable treatment. The committee took a roll call; the motion failed 7–3 and the measure will move to full county council for further consideration.