MADISON COUNTY, Miss. (WJTV) – On Monday, residents of the Lake Caroline community in Madison County met with county supervisors to voice their frustrations with a proposed gas station in the area.
The residents said they’re against the proposed Stribling Market gas station. If built, the gas station would sit at the entrance of Lake Caroline on Stribling Road. Residents believe traffic would be worse in the area.
“Well, I’m frustrated because basically the people don’t want it. We get a fine neighborhood here. A lot of us been here for years and years. Enjoy it, coming out here, coming from work. A lot of people are here retired. We have a problem, you know, with this gas station market because it’s going to be right at the entrance of Lake Caroline. And the main entrance is going to create a tremendous traffic problem. Senior citizens getting in and out of the main roads, traveling around. It’s going to increase crime. We think it’s just a bad idea,” said Charles Benson, who lives in Lake Caroline.
One resident said the local government does not support the residents of Lake Caroline.
“I mean, there’s over 2000 houses here living nice, quiet, peaceful lives. And then our Board of Supervisors, we had no support. It’s like we’re having to fight our own government because we don’t have any support,” said Robin Hodges, who lives in Lake Caroline
Madison County Supervisor Trey Baxter, District 2, said he’s glad residents are voicing their frustrations. He also said there needs to be a formal process to establish the rezoning.
“I’m glad to see the residents get involved and able to come here and explain the processes that take place in government that I don’t think they fully understood before. And local government has probably in my opinion, the greatest effect on people’s everyday life. I think what needs to take place here is that we need to go through the whole formal process, the rezoning. I know there’s documentation that shows this is good commercial, but the formal process needs to start from from start to finish,” Baxter stated.
Residents plan to attend the next board meeting, which is scheduled for Tuesday, February 20, to address their concerns with the Board of Supervisors.