FALLS COUNTY, Texas — A group of people in Falls County said they are not giving up their fight with commissioners over the closure of a portion of County Road 493.
On July 8, the group protested and it was discovered that commissioners may have shut down the road illegally. There was hope that they would get an answer Monday on whether the county would re-open the road.
The group said that with this portion of CR 493 closed, students will have to walk to Highway 7 to catch the school bus.
"Those kids are 7, 8, and 9 years old," said Manuela Sanchez, a parent of three Chilton Independent School District students. "It's a real hazard for them to walk in the heat, in the rain and the way it floods over there."
At the July 8 Falls County Commissioners meeting, the group of people who live on CR 493 near Chilton explained how closing a portion of the road would impact the community.
"We show up to this meeting hoping to get a thumbs up or a thumbs down and all we get is closed hands. We don't know what's going on," John Cobb said.
Falls County Judge Jay Elliott was hoping to have an answer as to whether commissioners would re-open the road or keep it closed.
He said the Texas Association of Counties could not give them legal advice without a retainer fee. Commissioners voted on Monday to pay that fee.
"With what was laid out to them, it's clear as day what needs to happen," Cobb said.
Commissioners voted to close a portion of the road July 1, after Thigpin cattle petitioned to close it. The group of residents said they may get their own attorney.
"We'll try to find the funds and fight," Cobb said. It's kind of hard to fight a millionaire when you work an hourly job, but we'll see."
They said their biggest goal is to keep the kids safe.
"If anything happens to those kids, it's going to be on them," Sanchez said. That's basically my concern, those kids."
Judge Elliott said he cannot promise to have a decision at the next commissioners meeting. He said an answer depends on how fast the lawyers can get back to commissioners.
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