Dear Editor,

Reversing the Malloy Landing Road closure would be wrong and potentially expensive for Jefferson County taxpayers. Here's why.

On June 17, the County Commission traded a little used road for a very valuable beachfront at the head of the Wacissa River. The Commission did the right thing. They preserved this traditional and historic riverfront access used by thousands every year. And they did it at no cost to county taxpayers.

This action of the Commission also relieved the county of the continuing cost of maintaining an obscure road that dead ends about 200 yards short of Malloy Landing. While nearly everyone knows about the head of the Wacissa River, until recently most Jefferson County residents had never seen or even heard of Malloy Landing, situated on a spring-fed creek near the head of the Wacissa River.

Malloy Landing is located on private property owned by the Floyd family. Game cameras set up on the 4 acre tract show that, before the Commission's action, the landing was being used an average of 2.1 times per month—hardly a heavily used public access site to the river. The poorly maintained landing is partially overgrown. Turning around or parking a boat trailer there is impossible without trespassing on private property, since the only legal access is a two-rut trail to the small boat launch. The launch itself is nothing more than a thinly layered truckload of crushed rock.

For thirty years I worked for the state, helping them acquire and improved public recreation sites. As a volunteer for a group that wants to see a nice park at the head of the Wacissa River, I participated in the negotiations that eventually led to the trade adopted by the Commission. Because there is misinformation being spread by a group pressuring the Commission to overturn its action of June 17, I would like to set the record straight.

First, the strip of land that the county received at the head of Wacissa River, is a very valuable property, since denial of its use would have made the county's other land there virtually useless as a public park. Despite the liability issue, the Boland family, to their credit, never tried to restrict access to their land. Had they chosen to sell that land to another party willing to force the county into a expensive condemnation proceeding, the acquisition of the narrow strip could have been very costly for county taxpayers.

Instead, the Boland family offered to trade the beachfront strip for (1) four acres of an old closed landfill site surrounded by land owned by the Bolands, (2) a short easement through some county land to isolated land owned by the Bolands, and (3) closure of the Malloy Landing Road which runs mostly through property they own. The old landfill site, located next to a dumpsite for abandoned mobile homes, was unsellable by the county and had little or no value. The easement was along an old road that the Bolands probably had a legal right to use anyway. So the only thing of value the Bolands asked was the Malloy Landing Road closure. Furthermore, there were only three landowners on the road, and all agreed to its closure.

Commissioner Danny Monroe, doing what he thought was best for his constituents, and who also participated in the negotiations, resisted closing the Malloy Landing Road. But the Bolands never wavered, and the negotiations almost collapsed. Finally, the parties agreed to let the Commission decide the issue by holding a public hearing on the road closure. Only after the Commission agreed to the closure did the Bolands sign the deed transferring the beachfront property to the county.

The group now clamoring for the county to take back the Malloy Landing Road is not acting in the best interest of the vast majority of Jefferson County's citizens. If this vocal group prevails, the county could be tossed into some very expensive legal proceeds with serious consequences—all this to keep open a road that almost no one uses.

In terms of value, the Bolands gave us a lot more than they got. The county now owns the riverfront it wanted and needed. Taking back the road at this point should offend our sense of fairness, as should the vilification campaign a few are now waging against the Boland family.

Mark Glisson

The Malloy's Landing was recently abandoned by the County in a 4 to 1 Commission vote. Since then, the County Commission has decided to reconsider its decision. Additional public hearings will be held SEPT. 16TH AT 7:00 PM In the COURT HOUSE before the Commission decides to keep Malloy's Landing open to the public or abandon it.

The question for Jefferson County voters: Should the Malloy's Landing be kept by the county and remain available for public use?

Remarks submitted by Charlie Walker:

I don't know how long Malloy's Landing Road has been public access to the river. I know 100 years ago Angus Malloy had a business here. He rented boats to people who wanted to go on the river. I think he had a small store that sold other goods. There was also another business there at that time.

I know the County has built and maintained this road for many, many years. I suppose as long as they have been maintaining public county roads. In the past few years the county road department has made great improvements on this road and hauled rock in and put it on the road and parking area. This road has been greatly improved in the past few years at the taxpayers' expense.

I have been told by both other small land owners that Mr. Boland gave them contracts, with promises, current and future if they would not object to this road closing. Mr Boland's family has just bought this land in the last few years. Each of the land owners involved with this road bought their property knowing that this was a public access road to the Wacissa River.

The Wacissa River, to me, is GOD'S creation. For all GOD'S people. In places you can see as deep as 50 feet to the bottom of the springs. You can see the bottom of the river in most places where there is no grass. It is very clear cold water that comes from springs throughout the river. I don't think this entrance should be taken away from the public and given to any one family.

I was told by one of the small land owners that the day after the vote to abandon the road,Nestle Waters had semi-trucks hauling in well drilling equipment with the intent of hauling out 75 to 100 loads, three or four days a week, of water to be bottled in another county. This means 150 to 200 trucks coming in and going out daily. The road from Malloy Landing closing point to the state highway is not built to support this kind of traffic and will be very expensive to maintain.

I don't think it's in the best interest of the citizens of Jefferson County to have this road abandoned and taken away from ALL citizens after so many years and so much history.

Ask yourself the question, is it right to take away this access for family outings and fishing boats and replace them with semi-trucks hauling off spring water?

Jefferson County has two river access points near the head of the Wacissa River. One at the head and the other is about 1/4 mile down the river, which is Malloy's Landing. The next one is 16 miles away down mostly dirt roads. On warm days, at the head of the river, it is overflowing with people and makes it hard to put boats in and take them out.

As far as visions for the future of the head of the Wacissa River, the county has NO money budgeted and NONE in sight for these visions. Why would you give away the public's second access before the visions come to reality? It has been politicians talking about visions all of my life, but we are yet to see much difference.

I think this decision to abandon Malloy Landing Road was passed because the commissioners received FALSE information and DISTORTED facts, for the soul purpose of taking this road for personal gain.

Charlie Walker