The Covington County Commission on Wednesday tabled a request to lend its support to the “Rails to Trails” program that proposes that approximately 42 miles of unused railroad tracks between Andalusia and Geneva County be taken into to trust by Alabama’s Forever Wild program in order to be converted into public outdoor trails.

District 2 Commissioner Joe Barton made a motion that the item be tabled, citing concerns from landowners in his district with property adjacent to portions of the proposed tracks of land.

“I’ve heard concerns from landowners with property that runs up against some of the rails,” Barton said. “They are just wanting to know if the trails will be fenced off, or if people on the trails could just get off and come onto their property.”

The commission voted unanimously to table the item until its next meeting. Support for the program has already been declared by both the Opp and Andalusia city councils.