Hahira citizens make their voices heard

Kelli Hernandez
The Valdosta Daily Times

VALDOSTA July 22, 2008 11:50 pm

— Lowndes County Commissioners heard concerns from a number of citizens regarding plans to widen Old Highway 41 North from North Valdosta Road to Hahira during the regular meeting Tuesday evening.
Hahira Mayor Pro Tem Rose Adams addressed the Commissioners and reiterated the contents of a letter sent from Hahira Mayor Wayne Bullard to Joe Sheffield, District 4 engineer for the Department of Transportation, which stated that the city officially requests that the DOT “cease all efforts to move this project forward in its current form.”
DOT officials met with concerned citizens in Hahira April 1 at Hahira Middle School. Since that meeting, the DOT has made revisions to the original plan as a result of the concerns voiced by citizens in attendance.
Adams stressed to the Board of Commissioners that the “key words” in the letter were “in its current form”, explaining that citizens of Hahira are willing to move forward with the DOT as long as revisions are made to the current plan.
Commissioner Richard Lee stated that the desires of the citizens of Hahira must be clarified. According to Lee, the original proposed plans called for the entire highway to be four-laned all the way through the city of Hahira. Revised plans also include four lanes, but the highway would not lead directly into the city. Lee stated that the Commission needs to have a consensus as to whether citizens are concerned with the four lanes or if the concern is with the highway leading into downtown Hahira.
Hahira resident D.K. Hollis addressed the board and asked the commissioners to think about the future needs of the county. In 1993, according to Hollis, the Highway 41 widening project was No. 4 on a list of proposed transportation projects and ever since that time it has continued to be pushed back. He added that looking back, nothing has changed about the highway in 15 years, though the population of the county has greatly increased.
“Let’s get a reasonable opinion on the thing and let’s get it done,” Hollis said. “Think about the future.”
Dr. Barry H. Braun, who lives on Highway 41, stated that though he is not opposed to accommodating growth, he is opposed to a four-lane “Bemiss Road” type of change to the highway. He acknowledged that certain upgrades to the highway may be necessary, especially around Valwood School.
In 1991, according to Braun, DOT was contracted to look into potential upgrades to Highway 41. He requested that the Board of Commissioners look into alternative ways to accommodate the growth in the northern part of the county, adding that DOT has not looked into alternate routes because the department is locked in to the original contract made in 1991 that focused solely on Highway 41.
Lowndes County resident, Tanner Knox, stated simply, “We don’t want four lanes coming into Hahira - period,” which drew cheers from the audience.
Commissioner Edgar Roberts, who led the meeting in Chairman Rod Casey’s absence, stated, “We hear what you are saying. Any project is still five or six years down the road, but we are not doing anything until we get a consensus on Old 41 North.”

In other business Commissioners:
- Approved a request from the Circuit Public Defender’s office to roll over $75,390.03 in surplus funds from 2007 into calendar year 2008. Brooks, Colquitt, Echols and Thomas counties of the Southern Judicial Circuit have already approved the action.
- Adopted a resolution accepting the infrastructure for Hidden Treasures Subdivision.
- Authorized the execution of a Quitclaim deed for the old dump site property on Old Clyattville Road.
- Accepted the low bid from The Scruggs Company for $231,270.60 for the paving of Boring Pond Road.
- Accepted the low bid from Standard Contractors for $1,027,710.50 for the Skipper Bridge Road sanitary sewer extension. This is the last phase needed for the sewer service along Bemiss Road.
- Accepted the low bid from Radney Plumbing for $283,844.78 for the Bemiss Road water main extension. This extension will finish the Bemiss Road area and be able to provide Moody Air Force Base water service.
The Board of Commissioners will meet Thursday at 8:30 a.m. to approve the millage rate. Commissioner Lee stated that the millage will be rolled back and, as a result, the county will not advertise a tax increase for the first time in eight years.