BOC talks T-SPLOST

Madison County is part of a 10-county region, which would collect one penny per dollar for roads. Seventy-five percent of that pooled money would go toward projects of regional interest. The other 25 percent of the funding would go to counties to spend as they see fit. Madison County anticipates receiving $1.4 million annually from the 25-percent pool.

A regional roundtable, consisting of representatives from each county, will determine what regional projects should be put on a ballot before voters in the area. Madison County leaders are seeking input on what roads in the county are of regional interest and could be included on the referendum.

Junne Temple, Danielsville, said turns lanes are needed at the intersection of Hwy. 29 and 98.

“Although it (the intersection) is in the city of Danielsville, it’s not just a city of Danielsville problem,” said Temple, who serves on the Danielsville City Council. She noted the heavy school traffic in the city. “… We have traffic backed up to the courthouse in the afternoons.”

District 5 commissioner Jim Escoe said he feels the intersection of Hwy. 29 and 98 needs to be addressed as soon as possible, even before the T-SPLOST referendum.

Temple also said traffic on Hwy. 29 is “horrible” and needs to be addressed with more passing lanes.

“People use it as a racetrack,” said Temple. “It’s dangerous and is certainly frustrating.”

Madison County resident Joe Costyn said he doesn’t have any faith in the state Department of Transportation. He asked if the DOT would oversee the 75-percent of the T-SPLOST money used for regional projects. And BOC chairman Anthony Dove said the DOT will oversee those projects.

“I trust you (the county commissioners) to spend our tax money wisely,” said Costyn. “I don’t trust the DOT. They are poor stewards of our tax money.”

County resident Hoke Strickland said he would like to see commissioners adopt a road paving protocol — have each commissioner pick one road to pave, then have all those roads paved before each commissioner picks another.

“That would be more fair to the citizens,” said Strickland.

Strickland said that Hwy. 98 has just been paved, but he said the heavy truck traffic is already leading to crumbling in places along the edges of the road. He said the highway is too narrow in places and that the highway needs to be improved, since it is a main route for trucks going to and from I-85.

“That road is busier and more dangerous than Hwy. 29,” said Strickland.

In a related matter, Dove said the county is working on establishing clear criteria for road-paving priorities. Factors to consider include: how many residents are on a road, how many churches or businesses are on the road, how many rights of way are signed, the average daily traffic and whether the road is connected to main roads in the county.