East Fork Road Dispute Heading to Chancery Court

The East Fork Road dispute in Overton County will go before a chancery court following a decision made by the county commission.

Property owner Charlie Gaut said he and others in the area of Blue Hole are “under attack.”

“We’re having individuals come in there at all times,” Gaut said. “They’re destroying our property, they’re causing all kinds of havoc where we can’t even enjoy our property anymore.”

The dispute began after Gaut threatened to close part of an access road leading to the popular swimming area. However, other property owners and even county commissioners said the road had been in place longer than the Gaut claims.

Gaut said the road has been in its current state since 2001, while others said the road has been in place much longer. A Public road cannot be closed from public access if it has been used by the public for at least 20 years.

C.B. Guffey is one of the property owners against the idea of closing the road.

“If they close this road down, my grandkids and these other grandkids coming up ain’t got nowhere to ride horses and nothing else,” Guffey said. “[Gaut] is talking about he had a mile and a half of road up through there. That road’s been there all my life, and I don’t believe it needs closed.”

Gaut said visitors of Blue Hole have vandalized properties from shooting security cameras to spray painting signs. Gaut said in one case, someone went as far as to defecate on his grill.

“There’s just all kinds of drug activity and drinking,” Gaut said, “They take used car tires and throw them down. Just a total lack of respect for anybody’s property.”

Guffey said closing the road down would inconvenience more people than it would help.

“It’s going to damage a lot of people,” Guffey said. “I know their hollering is bothering them, [but] they knew that when they moved in there because the road was there. And I don’t believe it should be closed.”

The commission voted unanimously to have chancery court decide whether the portion of East Fork Road is for private or public access. Guffey declined to interview following the meeting, but family members said they were pleased with the decision.

Gaut said after the meeting he hopes the dispute is taken care of when it goes to court.

“It’s good that we live in a country where we can agree to disagree,” Gaut said. “That’s what the court of law is for and that’s what we’ll end up doing is taking it to court and getting this issue taken care of.”

A court date will be scheduled at a later time.