Wednesday, March 24, 2004

What’s Tyrone got to do with Mann Road future?

An article in The Citizen [March 17] reports discussions at the recent commission meeting on proposed extension to Sandy Creek Road and “improvements” to Mann and Trickum Creek Roads. I especially noted the comment:

“After the meeting, Commission Chairman Greg Dunn said the extension was put into the program because the town of Tyrone wanted the road routed to Mann Road. Dunn said he would not have a problem with changing the proposal, but the request came from Tyrone.”

I am shocked that the leaders of Tyrone would have any impact on plans for Mann Road since no part of Mann Road lies within the city limits of Tyrone. The leaders of Tyrone do not represent the residents of Mann Road, nor do we have any opportunity to vote on the leaders of Tyrone.

You [Chairman Dunn] and the other county commissioners, not the mayor or city council of Tyrone, are our duly elected representatives in this county. Therefore I would expect that the wishes of your constituents on Mann Road, not the leaders of Tyrone, would hold sway in any plans for changes to our community.

My family came to Fayette County to escape the unchecked growth in Fulton County and has lived on Mann Road for over 35 years. We purposefully located on a road far away from the established travel corridors to ensure that we could enjoy our “country” way of life for the foreseeable future. My neighbors moved here for many of the same reasons. We pay our property taxes and ask for very little in county services save an occasional spread of gravel on the road.

The actual population density of the area and projected density given the current zonings does not support any move to radically improve the roads in our area. Any move by Tyrone to turn Mann Road into a by-pass is simply an attempt to shift growth from their community to ours. I suggest that Tyrone deal directly with their problems and we will deal with ours.

I will avail myself of all opportunities to oppose the so called “improvements” to Mann Road. I look forward to further discussions with Fayette County Commission to maintain the quality of life in the Mann Road community.

R. Steven Justice

Fayette