The Warren County Commission is working to obtain easements needed for paving a number of gravel roads in the future. Though several roads are under consideration to be upgraded, the county has been slowed by the reluctance of some property owners to grant the necessary easements, they said. That roadblock has forced the county to begin looking at other roads that could be paved sooner with cooperating property owners. "If we can't get all the easements, we're moving on," Presiding Commissioner Arden Engelage said. County roads that have been identified as topping the commissioners' list include North Stracks, Stracks, Rock Church and Bluff Road. Others county roads under consideration are Royal Drive, Shepherd Glen, Shetland, Pendleton Cut-Off, Stringtown and County Farm Road. The road list was compiled from ones the commissioners pinpointed and requests from citizens. Two roads that may be upgraded sooner to pavement include Schreckengast and Town Branch. Both have property owners willing to split the project costs with the county, a proposal the commissioners want to take advantage of. County officials estimated it costs $115,000 to upgrade and pave a one-mile stretch. While most property owners support a switch to pavement, some have been reluctant for a variety of reasons, such as concerns that a paved road may lead to more traffic and speeding motorists. Others are holding out with the hope the county will pay them for right of way. "That is not a county policy," Southern District Commissioner Hubie Kluesner remarked. The commissioners noted they are focusing on roads heavily traveled and around municipalities. "If we get the easements, the work will progress," Kluesner said. "It takes time. We want to do some every year and take advantage of that tax base." Voters approved the continuation of a half-cent sales tax in February 2008. Beginning July 1, 70 percent of sales tax receipts will go toward road maintenance, while the remaining 30 percent is allocated for capital improvements. County officials are predicting the sales tax to generate $400,000 in the remaining six months in 2010 and double that figure to $800,000 in 2011. Per county policy, the right of way width for a roadway must be 60 feet, an increase from the current width of 40 feet for most county roads. A 20-foot-wide driving surface will be paved and an additional 2 feet of gravel shoulders will be on each side. The remainder of the easement will be used for utilities. Kluesner pointed out the extra room will be available for future growth if water or sewer lines are installed. "We can't manage growth, but we can plan for it," he said.