Rabyn Ratliff
The Valdosta Daily Times
VALDOSTA
Sat, May 17 2008
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The Lowndes County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously to approve a list of recommended paving projects during its regular session Tuesday, to be completed under SPLOST VI.
The project list was compiled by projects from the SPLOST V list that were not completed, as well as new projects from each district that were added by the respective commissioners. The project list will provide for the paving of approximately 60 miles of dirt road to either convention paving or surface treatment, resurfacing approximately 60 miles of existing roads, and the replacement of five bridges. The projects will span over the next six years.
The board has been considering a list of possible paving projects to be approved this year, since discussions at the 2008 annual retreat. The need for repaving several county streets has been a long-time issue, however, as shared by county resident James Montgomery.
“The road has been like that since I was a little boy,” said Montgomery who lives on Bergman Road. “The school bus would get to a certain area and then have to back up down the road (in order to not get bogged down in mud).”
The list approved during Tuesday’s regular meeting included the names of 70 county roads, but as funds are limited, top priority will be given to those roads meeting the paving criteria outlined by the board.
“Some of the roads on the list have been on the list before and taken off for various reasons, but it's important that residents understand that we only have $24 million to go toward this project, and there are more streets on the list than that amount will cover,” said Paige Dukes, county public relations officer.
For some county residents like Gretchen Quaterman who enjoy the serene country view of her neighborhood, road improvements are the only requests of her community. “In the discussions of our neighbors, it is not a consensus among the residents for the road to be paved,” said Quaterman as she showed commissioners a photo of her tree shaded road. “Widening of Quaterman road is not endorsed by all the residents because the trees would have to be removed, and that would be a detriment to our neighborhood and county, because there aren’t many trees like this other places. We’d like the road to be fixed up, but not paved.”
The recommended project list will be posted on the Lowndes County Web site today. Citizens with concerns are encouraged to contact the Commissioners office and attend meetings in upcoming weeks.
“Residents really need to give us some feedback about this list by contacting the County Engineering Department and saying if you would like this or not, and sign a petition, because a great deal will be based on the consensus of the neighborhood,” said Dukes. “The staff is always willing to meet with residents to tell them what it would take and what things come in to play. Also, know that we are considering alternate means to paving roads that may be less costly, for those who do not wish to have their roads paved.”
The board approved a proposal from Steadfast Bridge for the Skipper Bridge Road project, in the total of $200,664. The two new bridges will replace the two existing structures on Skipper Bridge Road north of Highway 122. According to County Engineer Michael Fletcher, the project will begin on July 1, and completed within the eight weeks following. Skipper Bridge Road will be closed during the duration of the bridge replacement. The Lowndes County Board of Commissioners are preparing for National County Government Week Festivities to begin on April 4. A complete list of activities will be listed in a following edition of The Times.
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