Have you been experiencing extreme traffic delays and congestion on your weekly/monthly trips to the county land fill/transfer station? Well, good news for you: If the SPLOST passes, the county is going to take $2 million of our tax money and build a new access road to the site.

Have you been experiencing extreme traffic congestion on Highway 54 between Fayetteville and the hospital? Well, good news: If the SPLOST passes, the county is going to take a large portion of $8.7 million of our tax money and build a bridge over Crystal Lake and give you a route through two subdivisions (25 mph) and a school zone. (Maybe no homes will be bulldozed).

Do you dislike the median at the hospital? Well, good news: If the SPLOST passes, the median will be “improved” with our tax dollars.

These are examples of projects that were added to a long list and never given thorough study by our county commissioners. When I saw the road I live on slated for improvements, I searched and found the bridge hidden in the list.

I invited all the commissioners and public works officials to meet with concerned residents of Hood Road. After visiting the neighborhoods and project site (the first time seeing the site for two of them), they agreed that the bridge should not have been placed on the SPLOST list.

One commissioner met with us and said he wished they had had more time to review and study the list. The night they voted for the SPLOST resolution was the first time they had seen the list.

We are outraged that our elected officials in Washington are voting on bills that they have not read or understand, yet here in Fayette County, the same thing is happening.

I ask you as voter to read the SPLOST resolution and pay particular attention if your road is on the list for improvements. Also, note the phrases “including, but not limited to,” “such as, but not limited to.” Does this give the county a blank check to do as they please after the election?

The Public Works director was asked for a “wish” list rather than a “needs” list to be placed on the SPLOST. Do we want our tax dollars spent in such a manner?

Please vote this WISH SPLOST down and hopefully the future SPLOST list will be based on needs.

Donald Fowler

Fayetteville, Ga.