“As you are all aware, we’ve discussed this in the past,” said Taylor Town Attorney Sterling Solomon at the Feb. 2 town council meeting, referring to a right-of-way and easement that will provide access to the eastern portion of Taylor from 1000 East on Center Street.

“You all know that’s been a hot topic for a long time,” Solomon continued. “We’re at a point with the (Gayle) Perkins family where we’re going to be able to establish a right-of-way,” noting that the council was scheduled to hold the first reading of the necessary ordinance that evening.

Over the years Perkins has requested access to property he owns on East Center Street, and the Hancock family requested that access follow the meandering dirt road, which required the town to purchase land.

The first reading of Ordinance 2011-01, designating and establishing the public right of way/easement to be known as East Center Street in the area beyond 1000 East, was done by title only.

“We have a more immediate need as far as transportation and immediate growth,” said Solomon. “This will resolve the issue with the Perkins family and let us move on with the Hancock family and resolve that.

“Because it has taken so long, we’ve gone through it with a fine tooth comb,” said Solomon noting there were a couple of discrepancies on the map. He explained that the map and ordinance were created by two different people, so they need to be reconciled.

The right-of-way is 1.38 acres that is 116.23’ wide from 1000 East to the old railroad bed, and .22 acres that includes the railroad bed.

The ordinance states that it is the desire of the town to continue planning for future growth in the eastern portion of town, and appropriate rights-of-way and easements that provide access to ensure that the growth in that area be planned and organized. It further states, “Property along East Center Street beyond 1000 East as shown on the original town plat was set aside to assist in the planned and organized growth of the eastern portion of the town of Taylor.”

The council enacted the following: “The property described in the grant of public easement and legal description will be established, designated and granted to the public as a public right-of-way and easement for ingress, egress and utilities as described in the exhibit that was attached and that all ordinances or parts of ordinances in conflict with the provisions of Ordinance 2011-02 are hereby repealed.”