Residents on a Catoosa County dirt road that cuts through a corner of Walker County say one neighbor has claimed part of the road as his own and prevented crews from maintaining it until it has become impassible.

Robert Templeton Jr., the accused neighbor, said he doesn't have a problem with anyone driving on the road and waves at everyone who drives by.

At a recent Catoosa County Commission meeting, members of the Smith family blasted Mr. Templeton over the control of Smith-Templeton Road in western Catoosa County. The Smiths contend Mr. Templeton has posted "private drive" signs to intimidate them and that he has threatened to sue anyone who works on the ruts that make the road unusable for all but the heartiest of four-wheel drive trucks.

"He's claiming that the road belongs to him," said Stacci Smith, who lives on the road.

Mr. Templeton says he has asked Walker and Catoosa counties to service the road and spent $2,000 over the summer to help fix the ruts.

"I've not stopped anybody," Mr. Templeton said. "I've done more than my share on this road."

County officials have said the allegations, if true, are baffling, and attorneys from Walker and Catoosa have discussed possible solutions.

"For an individual to deny access to families or to police vehicles, to me in this day and age, that doesn't make sense," Catoosa Commissioner Jim Cutler said.

Catoosa County Attorney Chad Young said he plans to propose an intergovernmental agreement at Tuesday's commission meeting. If both counties agree, Catoosa could grade the 500 feet of the road in Walker County as part of maintaining the whole road.

Mr. Young said the Catoosa portion already is a public road maintained by the county. Since Walker has never maintained its portion, the 500-foot stretch on Mr. Templeton's property is still technically private.

That's where the issue lies for Walker County, County Coordinator David Ashburn said.

"Them asking us (for the intergovernmental agreement) is a waste of time because it's not our road," Mr. Ashburn said.

Mr. Templeton could ask Walker County to accept the road, as is common practice, Mr. Ashburn said. But the road does not meet county standards, he said, so accepting it could set a troubling precedent.

Mr. Templeton said a county official asked him a few years ago if he would deed over a portion of land for the road, but he never heard more about it. He said he would deed over a strip as long as it didn't take his entire front yard.

He said he was surprised to hear the Smiths showed up at the commission meeting and also by their claims. He said the road is in bad shape, but it's because of a drainage problem up the slope

"We haven't bothered anybody," Mr. Templeton said. "Nobody's talking with us. This came out of the blue."