Opinion ID: 1700088
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: street maintenance

Text: Neither the fiscal officer nor the general manager knew what it cost to maintain the streets in their little city. As with other enumerated items above, this cost was paid under general operation and maintenance expenses. One of the officers was of the opinion the cost was minor. The streets in the subdivisions, however, do constitute 30 per cent of the public roads maintained by the District. Of course, it does not matter what the cost actually was, the District officers and Board were under a duty to keep records so that the precise cost to the District of this maintenance and upkeep would be known at all times. An example of the District's ability to look after the taxpayers is shown in another facet to this street maintenance. It is elementary that when a street or road has been dedicated to public use, the municipality or county thereafter has the obligation to maintain it. The power to control and regulate the use of the street or road as a public way is in the municipality or county. One way to dedicate a street or road is by map duly approved by the local political subdivision, after the streets or roads thereon have been constructed to meet specifications. The map or plat is then recorded on the public records. See: City of Columbus v. Payne, 155 Miss. 170, 124 So. 269 (1929). Rankin County adopted a comprehensive plan for subdivisions in District 2 of that county, making detailed engineering requirements before it would accept streets in subdivisions of that county. Article V, Section 500, Section 503.10 recognizes the duty of the county, upon a street meeting all requirements, to thereafter maintain it. Yet, the District agreed with Rankin County that Rankin County would have no obligation whatever to maintain the streets in these subdivisions, even though completely constructed in accordance with the comprehensive plan. The taxpayers of Leake, Scott, Madison, Rankin and Hinds counties will pay for the maintenance of the streets.