BROOKS COUNTY, Ga. (WALB) — In Jamar Subdivision, neighbors say the same problem keeps returning with every hard rain: the dirt road washes out, ruts deepen, and drivers slow to a crawl just to make it home.

Residents say the road conditions have cost them money in car repairs and upkeep and they believe the road problem may be connected to something even more basic: repeated boil water advisories.

Several neighbors told WALB they were also led to believe the subdivision’s road would eventually be paved. But Brooks County Administrator Buddy Johnson says the county never agreed to pave most of the subdivision’s roads.

“It came from the realtors moving in...”

Jeff Patterson moved into the neighborhood in August 2024. He says he heard the road would be paved when he bought his home — but since then, he says the condition of the road has only gotten worse.

“It came from the realtors moving in. What has happened is they’ve continued building in here, so… the roads have gotten worse since then,” Patterson said.

With more homes built and more traffic moving in and out, residents say deep ruts and thick clay make it hard for normal daily life and even basic services to function.

“We have regular occasions where simple utilities, like our garbage, is not picked up because the trucks can’t get in here,” Patterson said.

Residents say they’ve become the “rescue team”

Zach Schultz, moved to the neighborhood in December 2020. Washouts and ditches have forced Schultz to help one another just to keep traffic moving.

“So, just within the last… I’d say eight months, four or five vehicles — had to pull them out of the ditch,” he said.

Residents have also raised concerns about emergency access. Schultz said he has seen a brush fire response complicated by the road conditions.

“Brooks County Fire Department came out and they got stuck in the ditch and had to leave the fire truck there,” Schultz said.

Another resident raised concerns that there are no posted speed limit signs inside the subdivision, and they say many people either abuse that or they are forced to go slow anyway because of the ruts and washouts.

“I’ve spent tens of thousands of dollars”

For Chi Town Eatz food truck owner John Bollam, he says the road doesn’t just slow him down, but it damages equipment and affects his ability to work after rain.

“Getting out of the neighborhood in a food truck, my shelving was collapsing in the refrigerator. So I was losing food or I can’t get out after rain, so it’s tough,” he said.

Bollam said the financial impact has been even more significant.

“I’ve spent tens of thousands of dollars,” he said.

County Road Maintenance

According to residents, the dirt roads are graded on a cycle about every 60 to 65 days but they say the short-term fix hasn’t stopped the road from washing out.

They also say roadwork can trigger another problem: water service.

Schultz said he and his family have experienced boil advisories and believe the grading can hit water lines.

“You’ll have boil advisories every time the grader hits the line… then they just blame on each other and nobody gets help and we get left in the middle,” Schultz said.

Residents told WALB they keep bottled water on hand. Patterson says he believes between 2024 and now, he and his family have received over 21 boil water advisories.

Others say they have paid out of pocket for filtration systems due to concerns about sediment and dirt.

Those concerns were serious enough that signs went up in the subdivision warning potential homebuyers to ask questions about roads and water before purchasing.

County administrator: “There has never been any agreement… to pave those roads”

Brooks County Administrator J.C. Buddy Johnson told WALB the county’s biggest obstacle isn’t only cost; he says it’s what’s beneath the dirt.

Johnson said Jamar Subdivision is served by a private water system, not a county system. He said the water lines were installed under the roadway decades ago, before the county took ownership of the roads.

“There has never been any agreement by the County Commission to pave those roads…” Johnson said.

Johnson said maintenance is complicated because road crews risk striking lines that are only inches below the surface in places.

“When we maintain a road that water lines are running under… there’s a chance we’re going to hit one of those water lines… That is something the water system has got to fix,” Johnson said.

The “horseshoe” section — and how costs grew from $200,000 to $600,000

The county has at least discussed paving one section of the subdivision, an older portion residents call the “horseshoe,” near the subdivision entrance off the main highway.

The earlier discussions years ago involved lower estimates, but today the projected cost is far higher.

According to Johnson, the project was once estimated around $200,000, but current engineering estimates put it closer to $600,000. He said county leaders are exploring funding options.

However, recent elections have impacted the possibility of using SPLOST funding to pave. But the county’s stated goal is to try to pave the horseshoe section in 2027.

Johnson emphasized there is no guarantee the newer roads in areas where homes are currently being built will ever be paved.

Moving Forward: New water lines won’t be allowed under new roads

Johnson said more homes are expected to be built in the subdivision. But he said, moving forward, Brooks County will not allow new water lines to be installed under new roads built in the subdivision. Future water lines would have to be placed along the sides or outside the road right-of-way.

Water company’s response

WALB requested an on-record response from Utilities Incorporated of Georgia (UIG) regarding:

• why boil water advisories have been issued,
• whether roadwork or washouts have impacted service, and
• whether there are plans to move water lines to accommodate long-term road solutions.

“Utilities Inc. of Georgia owns and operates the water system serving the Jamar Subdivision in Brooks County, Georgia. Thank you for your inquiry on behalf of residents. As the local water service provider, our mission is to deliver safe, reliable, and uninterrupted water service to our customers. We also believe in maintaining transparency and providing factual information about our operations. While private water utilities are not subject to the Georgia Open Records Act, we are committed to sharing relevant information with our customers and the communities we serve.

It is important to clarify that we do not have ongoing boil water advisories affecting the Jamar Subdivision. Since 2023, nearly half of the precautionary boil water advisories issued within this system have been related to damage caused by third parties working near our infrastructure. These third parties are not employees or contractors for UIG. We have communicated the importance of safe operation to these companies and the subsequent impact to residents and our team members.

Water Quality: UIG takes water quality seriously. Our annual water quality report - the Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) - provides information about the quality of the drinking water we deliver. It is available on our website – www.uigeorgia.com under Water Quality and Water Quality Reports. Customers can choose their service area from drop down menu. I have also attached a document that reviews how boil water advisories are handled, the EPA requirements and customer notification.

Local Investment: In addition to responding to service needs when they occur, we proactively invest in system improvements to reduce the risk of disruptions. Each year, we implement a capital improvement program based on our repair-and-replacement planning process and operational assessments. For 2025 in the Jamar Subdivision, we invested approximately $45,000 in infrastructure improvements intended to enhance system reliability. We also have a phased improvement plan totaling approximately $65,000 to address aging infrastructure and relocate sections of water main that may be vulnerable to future damage from roadway maintenance activities. Immediate future plans also include the installation of a second well for redundant water supply and SCADA for system and equipment monitoring.

Our focus remains on maintaining safe, reliable service while making strategic investments that improve the long-term resilience of the water system."

5 tips for new homeowners:

Real estate experts say if a promise matters to your decision—like paving, utilities, or future improvements — don’t rely on verbal assurances from a realtor or builder. Get it in writing in the purchase contract or an addendum before you sign.

1. Get material promises in writing (contract/addendum). If it’s not written into the agreement, it’s hard to enforce later. Source: Georgia Statute of Frauds — O.C.G.A. § 13-5-30(a)(4).
2. Ask for documentation of who represents you and what they’re paid—then read it. Written buyer agreements are meant to clearly spell out services and compensation. Source: National Association of REALTORS® — Consumer Guide to Written Buyer Agreements. 
3. Use contract language, not texts. If a builder/realtor says “the road will be paved,” ask them to put it in the purchase agreement as a specific obligation or don’t treat it as a promise. Source: NAR — Written Buyer Agreements 101.
4. Verify “future plans” with the responsible agency before closing. For roads, utilities, drainage, and zoning: call the county/city, request records, and ask whether plans are funded/scheduled or just “discussion.” Source: Georgia Statute of Frauds concept + standard due diligence; the key is not treating non-written promises as binding. 
5. When in doubt, consult a real estate attorney before signing. Especially when a deal hinges on infrastructure promises, easements, private utilities, or HOA/developer obligations. Source: NAR consumer guide notes practices vary by state and advises consulting an attorney for state-law specifics.

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