The Clarkesville City Council voted Monday night to close a rarely used, somewhat hazardous side street on the south side of town.
House Street is a short stretch of road located off of Spring Street. It runs behind Dunkin’ Donuts and ends in a steep drop off at the Wilbanks Lumber Yard, which recently expanded.
City Manager Keith Dickerson explained to council members that House is an old city street that may have possibly serviced the lumber yard years ago. He said he had hoped Dunkin’ Donuts would use it for a another exit. As it stands now, all visitors must enter and exit the shop from the same point on Washington Street. Dickerson said the city discussed giving Dunkin’ Donuts access to House Street, but the owners declined the offer.
“It’s slowly deteriorating and slowly going away. Two things are happening. People have figured out that they can drive down there and dump stuff,” he said, “and the other thing is that the GIS brings some of the trucks into Wilbanks [Lumber Yard] on House Street. They have a hard time getting out of there.”
Dickerson said the city keeps having to pick up trash dumped along the road and he sees no reason to keep it open.
“Nobody is using this road and nobody should be on this road,” he said.
Dunkin’ Donuts and the Wilbanks family own the property lining House Street. Councilmember Franklin Brown asked if Wilbanks was ok with the road being closed. Dickerson stated that they were fine with it. Brown then made the motion to close off House Street. Councilmember Terry Gladden seconded the motion and it carried unanimously.
No date has yet been set for when the road will officially close.
