By Stephanie Snodgrass

The Brewton Standard

An Atmore couple is looking for help after they say a new culvert flooded their West Sunset Drive property.

Kenneth and Vanessa Bogan told Escambia County commissioners Monday when county workers installed the new culvert on the paved Sunset Drive – the main county road – it forced water runoff onto their property.

“In June, when that last rain came, it looked like a river,” Bogan said, adding that water was traveling onto their property. “We’ve lived there for 19 years and never had a problem. After that culvert was put in, that’s when it started.”

Bogan said the dirt road leading into the couple’s home was washed away.

The couple claimed the rain event flooded them in, and when things cleared, they were left “with a huge mess.”

“Years ago, the county put in a culvert on our road, which led us to believe it was a public road,” he said. “Now, we’re being told that it’s a private road, and (the county) can’t help us repair it. We’re not in a position to repair it, and we need help.”

After much discussion, commissioners asked County Engineer Bill Bridges to research when the first culvert was installed on the couple’s property and make a determination if the road is a public or private road.

In other business, the commission:

• approved a resolution to enter into a joint bid with the state department of transportation;

• posted a 15 mile per hour speed limit on Middleton Lane and rescinded the speed limited on Rabb Street in Atmore;

• posted a 25 mile per hour speed limit on Leland Nall Road; and,

• reappointed the Rev. John Davis to the county board of equalization.