NEWPORT-The debate on whether to accept new roads into the Cocke County road system is headed to committee.

After refusing to accept one road and extend two others during Monday's Cocke County Legislative Body meeting, members agreed to send the issue to committee to be resolved.

"We need to work this out," said CLB member Phil Killion. "This is something we've been fighting over for several months."

Some CLB members expressed concerns over the expense of taking in extra roads, especially considering the economy, while others had reservations over the safety of trying to maintain roads that aren't up to current specifications.

Cocke County Mayor Iliff McMahan Jr. set a meeting on Jan. 7 in the Chancery Court Room for members of the Public Safety Committee, General Committee and members of the Highway Commission to discuss the situation.

The first road brought up Monday was Blessing Way, with the CLB considering taking in eight-tenths of a mile. Reportedly, there are three residences on the road.

CLB member Jimmy Lindsey made a motion to accept the road. "They're taxpayers and they deserve to be able to get in and out," said Lindsey.

His motion, however, did not receive a second.

CLB then approved a motion by Andrew Fowler not to accept any more roads unless they are paved and meet current specifications. Although the measure was approved, members agreed the issue should be worked out in committee.

Fowler, who works for the Cocke County Highway Department, said there are safety concerns when trying to maintain steep and narrow roads.

In other business Monday, County Attorney Fletcher Ervin reported a lawsuit over the Flura property on Rock Hill Road is to be heard Jan. 19 in Cocke County Circuit Court.

Ervin said a Cocke County resident filed the lawsuit after making a bid of $5,000 for the property at the last delinquent property tax sale. Ervin, however, pointed out the property has an estimated $30,000 in back taxes due. He said others have also expressed interest in buying the property but added the county also needs to look at the liability risk, since the property is a superfund site.

Ervin also advised CLB members of an opinion from the Court of Appeals concerning the open meetings laws. Ervin said the court has ruled that electronic communication between CLB members in discussing county business or in-person gatherings could be in violation. He said he's not aware of any violations by county officials but just wanted to make them aware of the opinion.

In another matter, Ervin said an issue of Allied Ambulance Service operating in Cocke County without insurance coverage has been resolved. Ervin said Allied had switched insurance carriers and, during the transition, Cocke County was accidentally omitted from the coverage. He said he has since been notified that the county has been added.

McMahan said he wanted to go on record in saying the county should be held harmless for any issues resulting from the lack of coverage and that Allied should "step forward" coverage for the county.

Allied made 495 calls in the county during November, working 1,324 extra man hours at no cost to the county, according to the monthly report.

In other action Monday, the CLB:

• Approved the appointment of McMahan, Finance Director Ann Williams and Gay Webb to the Technical Work Group of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

• Voted to reappoint James Moore to the Civil Service Board with a term to expire in August 2012.

• Heard a report from Partnership President Don Hurst, who addressed the impact of the North Carolina rockslide on Interstate 40. Hurst said the county continues to pursue state and federal aid for the county and added he continues to request North Carolina Department of Transportation get at least one lane open in each direction as soon as possible.

• Approved notaries and sureties.

• Approved the financial report from the Register of Deeds Office.

• Passed a resolution authorizing the Novation of Interest Rate Swap Agreements entered into by the Public Building Authority of Sevier County for the benefit of Cocke County. Chairman Smith pointed out the rate will be the same in a more secure area.

• Joined McMahan in praising the efforts of Elizabeth Reed, who recently resigned as the director of Keep Cocke County Beautiful to take a similar position in Sevier County.