By Jaiya Brown, FOX23.com News Staff
WAGONER COUNTY, Okla. — Wagoner County families who have been asking for road repairs for more than a year say county crews returned after a recent report and filled some potholes, but residents say the work still doesn’t address what they describe as a larger, ongoing problem.
The concerns are focused on roads near South 435.8 and East 670 Road, where residents say repeated patchwork has been inconsistent and incomplete.
Sarah Hibbs said she has been pushing for better road conditions in that part of Wagoner County for more than a year. She said county crews have now been out three times, but the repairs have not been consistent or complete. Hibbs said she appreciates the effort but wants the county to look at the road as a whole.
“I would think that you would work on one spot and then complete it and work on the next one. We really need to dig down and get that soft ground out,” Hibbs said.
Another resident, Janelle Oetting, said she is seeing the same pattern. She said only a few potholes have been filled with small amounts of asphalt, while other areas still need attention. Oetting said the road needs more than patchwork, including repaving and new guardrails.
“What needs to be done is the pavement needs to be redone, recut out, new guardrails. That is what needs to be done, not just filling in potholes as we get angry and doing the bare minimum job just to please us,” Oetting said.
Oetting also said the road conditions have created safety concerns, including for emergency response.
“I’m afraid somebody is going to get hurt or lose their life over these roads. I experienced it first hand when emergency personnel coming out here, and they were driving very slow because of the roads in Wagoner County. And then once they ht the new pavement in Mays County, they were able to go the necessary speed to get that patient to the emergency facility,” she said.
Families said the roads have not been properly maintained since 2017, and they said they are still waiting for a clear answer from the county about what a long-term solution looks like.
Requests for comment and an interview were made to Wagoner County Commissioner Randy Stamps’ office, including questions about why residents say the work has been incomplete and what can be done to fully address the road. Stamps called Thursday, Sept. 10 — the day after the first story aired — but a return call to schedule an interview was not returned. The office acknowledged receiving emails and calls, but said Stamps has been busy.
For Hibbs, the issue is also about communication from county leadership.
“Alot of bit of common courtesy is to return phone calls for the residents that voted for you,” she said.
