Because of a lack of time, several questions could not be addressed. I am including those questions here in hopes that you will publish this letter to show the community and the candidates what kinds of questions citizens are asking.
I am excited by the quality of the questions and the level of debate that took place at the forum. I hope that by publishing them, we will continue the productive discussions in our county. They were offered anonymously.
•Would you be willing to consider a low cost pre-K literacy program as a basic infrastructure issue in our county?
•With property values falling, how will the lost revenue be made up?
•Are you or anyone in your immediate family in the business of land development, and if so, do you see that as a conflict of interest?
•Why aren’t sealed bids for projects in Madison County more thoroughly researched (the companies involved) before awarding the best bid?
•Other than completing the widening of Hwy. 72, what other measures do you feel should be taken to forestall the ultimate traffic gridlock that comes with growth given the county’s current sparsely connected street network and past tendency of approving numerous cul-de-sac subdivisions that don’t connect with one another?
•Given the rising cost of gas, do you feel any changes are needed to make Madison County more pedestrian/bike friendly, or do you think the current zoning/subdivision laws adequately address these issues?
•What will you do to bring more industry to Madison County?
•What priority is it to you to bring more industry and stores to Madison County to keep our tax dollars here?
•What are your thoughts on requiring impact fees for new development projects to lessen the cost to taxpayers when the county’s current and non-existent infrastructure needs upgrading due to new development?
•What do you think about the commissioners taking way some of the authority of the chairman, such as hiring and firing county employees? Does micro-managing the employees at the county seem to be a problem for you?
•Do you have any idea how much time it takes to do this job adequately? Does your spouse?
•Can you think of some agriculturally-based
industry/trade/tourism that could help our county’s tax base without destroying our rural character? Would you support having an active agricultural development authority similar to the industrial development authority?
These are thoughtful questions from concerned citizens.
I hope they will serve as a basis to continue the active participation of our residents and show our elected leaders that we are a community of people who care deeply about Madison County.
Many of us are not able to attend commission meetings; election time is a good time to be in a productive dialogue with our leaders.
Thank you to everyone who attended the forum.
Melissa Tufts
Comer
