Damaged Roads Slow Down Geneva County First Responders
By: Megan Hunter
Updated: March 14, 2013
Both Fadette and Slocomb fire departments responded to the fire on Cottonbox Road, but due to damage from recent flooding, the Slocomb fire department had trouble getting to the home.
The home was not occupied at the time and was completely destroyed by the flames.
County engineers have been working to fix Cottonbox Road, but they are having trouble paying for the rest of the needed repairs.
"We're going to have to cut back (on repairing the roads), try to get them passable, but the engineer told me yesterday that 80 percent of his total overtime budget was spent and we aren't even halfway through the year yet," said Geneva County Probate Judge Fred Hamic.
First responders say they have alternate routes for nearly every home in the county, but the damaged roads do slow down response times.
"The county is doing the best that they can with what funding they have to get these roads open to us," explained Assistant Fire Chief Stacey Mcallister. "It does cause some delays, but we are aware of that and we are trying to help them as much as they help us."
The county is continuing its efforts to get funding from the state.
Hamic said last night's event shows why they need the money so badly.
"We're sorry that the building burned, but the men had been down there working on that road, the repairs just hadn't been completed."
