Two private property owners oppose this new public boat ramp in Goss.
By Josh Mitchell/Informer Publisher
Two private property owners in Marion County are upset with a new boat ramp that gives the general public more access to the Pearl River.
Goss residents Scott Dale and Nell Tolar live next to the new public boat ramp and think it will be a nuisance. They went before the Marion County Board of Supervisors this morning in hopes of having the public boat ramp destroyed, which is not going to happen.
To make matters worse for Tolar and Dale, the land the boat ramp is located on used to belong to them. They said they feel like they were “deceived” by the state of Mississippi when they sold some of their land more than five years ago for the new Pearl River bridge project in Goss. The boat ramp is located at the foot of the new bridge and was built two weeks ago.
Dale and Tolar said they would have never sold their land to the state if they had known it was going to be used for a public boat ramp. They thought their property would only be used to accommodate the new highway and bridge.
“I feel like we had the wool pulled over our eyes,” said Dale, adding he just found out about the boat ramp two weeks ago when it was built.
Marion County Board of Supervisors President Calvin Newsom
The supervisors likely could not take the boat ramp down if they wanted to. Board of Supervisors President Calvin Newsom said the boat ramp is state owned, but the county will help maintain the facility, which is located under the new bridge and has parking. The boat ramp was part of the overall $20 million Pearl River bridge project in Goss that was primarily paid for with state and federal funds, said Supervisor Lloyd Fortenberry, whose beat the boat ramp is in.
Newsom said he is sorry that Dale and Tolar feel like they were deceived, adding that he does not think that was intended. Dale is not mad at the county supervisors and said that the majority of county residents probably favor the boat ramp.
However, Dale said the property he lives on has been in his family since 1866, and he does not think it’s right that he is being “punished” for having land along the river.
Fortenberry said he advocated the construction of the boat ramp, because more public access to the Pearl River was needed. “I had a lot of people in my district and beyond who wanted a way to the river other than Columbia or Monticello,” said Fortenberry. “The Pearl River belongs to everyone. It needs to be accessible to everyone.”
Marion County Supervisor Lloyd Fortenberry
Fortenberry added that there are low-income people who can only access the river via free public access points such as the new boat ramp. He added that the boat ramp will probably draw people from different counties who want to access the river.
Tolar is concerned that a public boat ramp will draw a criminal element, including people who use drugs, fight and drink. She added that she is an elderly woman and that her children fear for her safety with her living next to the public boat ramp.
Newsom said the county will do its best to patrol the boat ramp to make sure there is no criminal activity taking place and will also post no alcohol signs. A sheriff’s deputy will go to the boat ramp daily to make sure there is nothing criminal taking place, Newsom added.
In general, fishermen are honest people, and therefore Tolar should not worry about them causing problems, Newsom said. Supervisor Raymon Rowell agreed that fishermen are typically good people who do not commit crimes.
Dale is not necessarily concerned about the safety factor, but is upset that the road to access the boat ramp is the same road he uses to get to his house. Dale is concerned that the road will not be maintained well with all the traffic and boat trailers.
For 15 years Tolar has operated a private boat ramp at her residence that people can pay to use. Tolar said she has let many people access the river from her property for free. She asked the supervisors if there was any way a fence could be constructed to afford her more privacy from the boat ramp, and Newsom said he would have to check into that and get back with her.
When you sale something – it ceases to be in Your control. I am sorry for Tolar and Dale, but it sounds like they willingly sold this land to the State and now it’s in the hands of its owners – the State – to be used however.
The ageement was when the dales and tolars sold the land for the bridge a boat ramp would be built for construction purposes only and then would be torn up. they did not build the ramp then they used ms tolar
I am a resident nearby the boat landing. I am very outraged with this landing. we have lived with little to no traffic here and im affraid of what people will do down there besides fish. by the way where are they gona park after launching the boat????
I am not for the boat landing at all. My grandmother lives down here alone and it really makes me mad for some people to underhand the ederly. There is no parking down there and a spring that has been rerouted and it really makes me sick. I think some people should start thinking about this if it was your mom or grandmother u would not like it either. If something happes to her I think it will be the one pushing for it. It is going to only bring drugs, and trash to our land and we do not like it
Maybe Tolar and Scott Dale can go in business and open a parking lot and a camp ground, or even better a bed & breakfast. I hear they are both pretty good cooks.
Sounds like a good idea.
Sounds like they are just being selfish. The river is public and now the public has easier access to it. Why does everyone have to be so selfish.. They have parking under the bridge now. If everyone is worried maybe they should start a neighborhood watch program to help the county take care of the place and keep it looking good instead of depending on the county to do it all.
Before u start saying tings like being selfish and neighborhood watching need to know the whole story not just parts of it and also there r plenty of place to launch your boats beside up here
Pure protectionism at its best. The old “not in my backyard” play.
FOR 15 YEARS MRS.TOLAR HAS BEEN OPERATING A PRIVATE BOAT RAMP TAHT PEOPLE ” PAY FOR ” TO GET INTO THE RIVER. WAS SHE EVER WORRIED THAT SOME THAT WERE ” PAYING ” HER WOULD BE BAD PEOPLE? THEY HAVE SOLD THE LAND,AND PROBELY GOT A GOOD PRICE FOR IT. THE PEOPLE NEED ANOTHER WAY TO GET INTO THE RIVER BESIDE COLUMBIA. THATS LIKE THE COUNTY HAS ALWAYS NEEDED ANOTHER WAY TO GET TO WHITE BLUFF INSTEAD OF HAVING TO GO 20 MILES OUT OF THE WAY. THAT IS JUST ME
All the members we have that come up here we knew r refered by another member, we have never had any trouble at all with stealing or anything else.
price(lol) that is a lie
Well since the supervisor in that Beat is so pleased with the boat ramp, maybe come election time the people in that Beat will remember and maybe he will be unemployed and have more time to use it himself.
I think he will have plenty of time to use the new boat ramp becaues i dont see many people voting for him this year
I had to laugh at a statement made in this article. The people that live in the Goss area know what I am talking about!!!..Come on Ms Nell get real…I do hate it for Mr. Dale.
I am sure he will have plenty of time to use the new boat ramp because i dont think he will have two many votes this year.
I hate it for both Tolar and Dale because it is just going to be a big mess for both of them
Maybe someone should look up the laws on public access to waterways. I’ve had the same problem with someone before telling me to get out of the river because they owned land on both sides. I believe the law says that the state owns the waterway and land up to the high water marks. Plus it is illegal to deny citizens access to a waterway from a public road.
I agree but we did not want the hwy or the boat ramp so that way it would have still been private if everone would have left it alone
I agree with but we did not want the hwy or the boat ramp so that way it would have still been private if everone would have left it alone
The property had to be sold. If they had refused to sell it then the state would have taken them to court and suied….and won. Its not the ole “not in my backyard”! Private land that has been PURCHASED, MAINTAINED, and TAXES PAID ON….should REMAIN PRIVATE!!
I agree but she has paid taxes on that place along time but no one see it like that
i agree but she has paid taxes on that land along time but no one see it like that
i think its good that we have another access point to get in the river. i also think dale and tolar are being a lil selfish. not a thing you can do but waste your breath. good day!
If it was your mom or grandmother u would have not even put nothing on there like that. U don’t no what was said and probley don’t care but u r a pretty selfish pearson your self to even think like that. GOOD DAY!!!
If it was your mom or grandmother u would have not even put nothing on there like that. U dont no what was said and probley dont care but u r a pretty selfish pearson yourself to even think that
GOOD DAY!!!!
Cant wait to launch at the new landing! wont take as much time to get in a good fishin hole.
When your boat,trailor,and truck end up in the river u will think getting in the fishing hole
All negative feedback on this PUBLIC BOAT RAMP are just people mad that “their” part of the river has been made more accessible to the general public.
Would you all like a little cheese with your WHINE?
No we dont need any cheese to go with our whine because it is stupid for u to even say anthing like that. If u had river frontage u would not like it by your house either mabe u should think about that
You made my point exactly by what you posted, MG:
Matthew Green says:
If u had river frontage u would not like it by your house either mabe u should think about that
I feel bad for these people, but if you enjoy a nice view of the river, it is because you are looking at public land that everyone has a right to access conveniently.
Anyone who can access a navigatable waterway from public land (boat launch or not) can traverse that waterway and its banks up to the normal high water mark (annual flood line). MEANING, that not only can I drive a boat past or between your land, but I can also hike along the bank and camp on the shore in front of your house or hunt club. You might not like it, but that’s how it works.
I want to no where u got your info. from so i can look it up cause that is not what the law is i heard so please let me no.