Varying viewpoints of the Pearl River County Board of Supervisors almost meant the county would have missed out on nearly $2 million in MDOT funding.

But Monday a new vote fixed all of that.

At a previous board meeting, members could not agree on whether to move forward with utilizing $1.9 million in state funding to conduct design work and right of way acquisition in order to prepare for the construction of a service road between Anchor Lake Road and West Union Road.

That motion failed for a lack of a second.

Monday the same matter came before the board, but passed with a 3-2 vote.

The difference was that a board member absent at the previous meeting was present at Monday’s meeting.

Even though this matter will move forward, board member Sandy Kane Smith, who voted against the motion, said it does not mean the road will be constructed.

Can you repeat that?

Will the county be spending almost $2 million of state funds, which come from tax dollars, just to ultimately not build a road?

Part of the issue seems to be public resistance from a minority of people who live off of what is currently a dead end road.

They have bent the ears of their supervisors because they don’t want the increased traffic the service road would bring.

Their concerns are understandable.

However, county officials report that the service road is required to provide residents living along Anchor Lake Road easier access to the Interstate.

Let’s not forget Lumpkin Road already provides this access, but is said to not be wide enough.

The point is, if the county decides to conduct the design work and purchase right of ways, the road should be constructed instead of wasting tax dollars.