Friday, March 21, 2003
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Friday, March 21, 2003 |
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County OK's Hwy. 34 improvements By JOHN
THOMPSON Residents traveling Ga. Highway 34 should soon see the road come to life with beautification efforts. But the discussion to improve the landscaping on the busy road caused one County Commissioner to threaten to quit paying part of his property taxes. Commission chairman Leigh Schlumper has worked for nearly two years to tray and get the corridor landscaped and beautified. "DOT crews only cut it twice a year, if then," she said. Schlumper had staged a town hall meeting in her district two weeks ago to gauge resident's feelings on the issue. She had proposed a special tax district to pay for the maintenance of the road, but some of the residents were opposed to it. On Tuesday night during the County Commission meeting, Schlumper proposed the county enter into a contract with the DOT at an annual cost of more than $20,000 to do the maintenance for 3.2 miles of the road near Interstate 85. The motion caused a stern reaction from Commissioner Vernon "Mutt" Hunter. "It's double taxation. You're taxing people who live in Haralson and Grantville who are not really affected by that road," he said. Hunter said he had plenty of roads in his district that also needed maintaining. But Commissioner Larry DeMoss looked differently on the issue. "It's a safety issue and we have a real problem with trash out there," he said. Resident John Birmingham, who lives in the area, agreed something had to be done about the road. "The beautification of 34 is an investment. It will cause property values to rise," he said. Schlumper, DeMoss and Commissioner Greg Tarbutton voted to find the money in the budget and enter into the contract with DOT. Commissioner Robert Wood abstained, while Hunter angrily opposed it. "I will deduct it from my tax bill. I will not pay it," he said. Later in the meeting, Hunter asked the board to send out a proposal to determine the cost of beautifying and maintaining three miles on several other roads in the county including Ga. Highway 16 near Senoia, and the intersection of Ga. highways 54 and 154. When the motion passed unanimously, Hunter recanted his threat of not paying his taxes.
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