Lawrence County Engineer David Lynd told some upset Symmes Township residents that he plans to repair road repairs in their area - soon.

The residents visited the Lawrence County Commission Thursday to ask if the commission had any success in talking to Lynd about road repairs on county roads 210, 47 and 14. They had first approached the commission a month ago, asking that something be done before bad weather sets in and makes the already deplorable road conditions even worse. When they asked for help Thursday, County Commissioner Doug Malone called Lynd and asked him to meet with the residents in commission chambers.

"We'll be working within the next week and they will be ready for winter," Lynd told the residents.

Peter Sipe, who lives on Tick Ridge Road, said a crew had recently trimmed the overgrowth along the edges of the roadways, but the pavement - or what was left of the pavement after this winter's ice storm - remains in poor condition and he feared that the roads will not survive one more winter.

Sipe and others said there are huge potholes throughout and one giant hump in the middle of the road where tires have worn away pavement and the surface underneath on both sides of it.

Sipe said he fears the poor condition of the roads is a safety issue because school buses must travel those routes daily.

"The school bus issue is a hot issue," Sipe said. "If this can't be addressed on the local level then we may have to expand our scope of where are our concerns and grievances go."

Fellow resident Steve Martin asked why this part of the county is neglected.

"I've been on every road in the county and guess which three haven't been touched," Martin said. "They've blacktopped roads that don't even need blacktop."

Resident Bobbie Cox said her cars are out of alignment and she has ruined tires over and over again trying to dodge one pothole while falling victim to another.

Residents said the situation has been made worse by heavy trucks attending to gas wells in the area.

"This is a real problem," Lynd said.

"Aren't those trucks supposed to be bonded?" Cox asked.

"The problem is in enforcing the bond," Lynd said. "We can't enforce it unless we can weigh trucks and the county doesn't have scales."