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GATESVILLE – The Gates County Board of Commissioners are in agreement that a dirt road in the county needs to be paved.

At their regular monthly meeting here March 17, the board heard from Commissioner Jonathan Jones who pitched a plan to pave Doughtie Lane. That state maintained dirt road is located off Taylor Mill Road, south of Eure Christian Church.

Jones, who represents the Eure District, said he was approached by one of his constituents regarding the condition of Doughtie Lane.

“The residents of that road want it paved; they are requesting that we reach out to the Department of Transportation (NCDOT) about that,” said Jones.

Jones added that he has already reached out to the Gates County office of NCDOT.

“[NCDOT official] Mike Vann said that request needs to go to the District Engineer in Edenton,” Jones stated.

The commissioners were presented letters supporting the road improvement from the Gates County Public Schools Director of Transportation (school buses use that road), from Kelly Eure, a resident of Doughtie Lane, one from the principal of Central Middle School, and one from Ray Felton, a property owner.

Jones stated that Tommy Doughtie is currently in the process of getting a petition signed from all the residents of that road who support its paving.

“What I would like the commissioners to do is to task the county manager to send a letter to David Ott, the NCDOT District Engineer, along with the petition of the property owners and these four letters of support, asking NCDOT to look into paving Doughtie Lane,” Jones suggested. “There would be no cost to the county.”

Jones added that four school buses use that road, which needs repairs following heavy rain.

“Mike is aware of that [repeated repairs],” Jones said. “The day I called him, his guys had just finished repairing it again.”

Jones put his suggestion into a motion, which was seconded by Commissioner Ray Freeman. The motion was approved without objection.