[tdeizman]

The ditch in front of my house flooded 01/01/11 due to lack of care by the county. It washed away the driveway that goes across it. I called county who informed me they were on a 2 week holiday and I would have to stay stranded until 01/10/11.
Emergency personell cannot get to me. If my house is on fire, Fire Dept has no way to cross the mote. Ambulance? Would have to park down the street. Cross 3 back yards to get to me.
Snow has now filled the hole. Should I call an ambulance, or should someone attempt to turn into what use to be the drive, they will end up nose first into a ditch.
What kind of county municipality goes on vacation for 2 weeks and leaves people to their own demise?
I am moving from Gurley as soon as I can get out of my driveway.

[Reactionary]

Call your County Commissioner (IIRC Roger Jones) and / or WHNT19 ("taking action / getting results").

Good luck.

[Mawoods]

Not sure you really mean Gurley since you said it was a county issue. Gurley is a little town and if the county is responsible for the maintenance then it is Madison County's responsibility.
I get upset with the amount of trash I see on the roads around here. I wish the county would do a better job of cleaning it up and citizens would take more pride in not trashing our environment.

[Threestep2]

Lack of care by the county - when have you notified the county and expressed your concerns and how did you do so?
Have you spoken with fire/emergency in your area?

[skinem]

The county commissioner for most of the area around Gurley is Jerry Craig--district 3. (Roger Jones is northern and NE Madison County.) That's who I'd start with, as well as already suggested, the emergency service people, fire, ambulance, Jerry Craig again, etc. I wouldn't settle for one person telling me that they were on vacation for two weeks.

There's no way the entire county maintenance department is on vacation for two weeks. Who did you call in the first place? If what you said is true, that they are on vacation for two weeks, they got called back and have been working like dogs to clear the roads...I suspect they can find someone to get you out of your house...

...IF, (and it's a big if), that what is washed out is not on your property and your responsibility. Or, if it's clear that it was county action or inaction that caused it. If it was "an act of God" and is on your property alone (I have a loooooong drive back to my house and if it washes out, the county isn't going to come fix it for me) it would seem to me to be your responsibility to fix.

...and even given what you've described, I'm pretty sure there are places worse to live than Gurley....

[tdeizman]

Done. Not much luck. After 3 weeks, the county finally came out and repaired it til the snow is gone and it can be totally redone

[tdeizman]

I have spoken to commissioner, engineers, the county highway department. Yes, it is their responsibility. However, if they do not put in new drain pipes in the ditch, I will fix it by filling the ditch with dirt and that will solve that. No more driveway falling into the ditch. Neighbors might get a little upset when their yard floods, but at least I can get out of my drive and emergency vehicles can get in.

[tdeizman]

YES! Because the county is so short staffed, they take 2 weeks in Dec/Jan and another week July. If the ditch digger goes on vacation then the pipe layer cant do his job and vv. So they all have to take vacation at the same time. That tends to happen when you spend billions on jails to house the lowlife.

[tdeizman]

Originally Posted by Threestep

Lack of care by the county - when have you notified the county and expressed your concerns and how did you do so?
Have you spoken with fire/emergency in your area?

I called emergency services in Montgomery. I am told there is no such thing in my area. I live in an all volunteer area. From what I was told, I would have to live inside the city of Huntsville. I never found any emergency service help for the area which I live.

[Keeper]

Even volunteer fire depts are on call and have a fire chief. Keep calling the commissioners, call TV stations and write the newspaper.