Chancery Court To Hear East Fork Road Dispute

A dispute over East Fork Road in Overton County heads to court this week.

The dispute began earlier this year after a nearby resident threatened to close part of the road, which leads to a popular swimming area.

Overton County Executive Ben Danner said the property owner has now put a gate up, preventing people from driving through.

“The law says that if the public has used the road over 20-years, they’ve got a right to use that road. The public has been using that road for at least 50-years or longer and now they want to block it and keep the public out,” Danner said. “From our view that’s a public road. No, it’s not a county road, but it’s been used by the public for over 20-years so the public has a right to use it.”

Danner said the county will ask a judge on Thursday for a court order to keep the gate open. He said a trial date could be set during this week’s hearing as well.

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.”

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.”

The Overton County Commission voted earlier this year to have chancery court decide whether the portion of East Fork Road is for private or public access.