Letters and Comments for October 9, 2009

Graves

Trim down South 12th Street project

To the Editor:

We have lived on South 12th Street for more than 20 years. The road in front of our house has needed repair ever since we have lived here. We figured that someday the road would be improved, and we have been waiting for that day.

Well, it seems that the day has been scheduled for next spring. We thought great, we will have a nice road and maybe a sidewalk for people to walk on. But when we found out what the city and county had planned for the road in front of our house, we were shocked.

Without any input from the residents along South 12th Street, they planned and approved a road. The road will consist of a 5-foot sidewalk, a 6-inch curb, a 6-foot bike lane, two 12-foot travel lanes, another 6-foot bike lane, an 8-foot parking lane, a 6-inch curb and another 5-foot sidewalk. We applaud the road being repaired, but we think that they are going way overboard. This city street will be wider than Gekeler Lane.

Yes, we will lose about six feet from our front yard, but that does not bother us. We will change that part of the yard and park our cars there anyway. What concerns us the most is the waste of taxpayers’ money on a road that goes nowhere.

We were told that the project was funded by the president’s stimulus project. That means all of us are paying for it. We would like our tax dollars spent a bit more wisely.

As far as the meetings that took place about the improvements, we went to the meeting where the city told us what was going to happen. We were never informed about the Planning Commission meeting.

Again, we have no issue with the road being improved. We just feel that this project could and should be trimmed down a little.

Laurie and Larry Graves

La Grande