I receive a number of questions via my camapgin e-mail address (thomasforcouncil@gmail.com) and I enjoy the process of answering them. Some of the questions remind me of the New York Times crossword puzzle - challenging and, in the end, a learning experience.
A County resident submitted a number of questions / concerns and although they asked for the issues to be addressed directly on my campaign website, I felt it more appropriate to answer them here, on the blog.
First, there is a concern about the conditions of the county roads, especially in the furthest reaches of the county. The county highway department is responsible for the maintenance of all of the bridges in the county (including those in the city) and more than 650 miles of county roads. While the highway department reports directly to the county commissioners, the budget for the highway department is approved by the county council.
When the roads are in a state of disrepair (potholes, erosion, etc.), the highway department should be contacted at 825-5355. The department will let you know if the roads in question are scheduled for repair or repaving and when the work is scheduled. If it’s not yet scheduled, they will take note of your concerns and will investigate any problems. As a county resident, I have called the department in the past when I’ve encountered potholes on our roads or were concerned with eroding roadway edges. These problems were addressed in a timely manner - in most cases within 24 hours! What great service! Although the highway department has a limited budget (as do all county departments), they are able to respond effectively to the needs of county residents.
In general, improvements to county roads (in terms of creating wider roads) occurs when there is an increase in traffic flow requiring that these roads be widened (for safety reasons). Again, these concerns can be investigated by the county highway department - traffic flow can be studied and alterations to the roadways scheduled, if needed.
The next question concerns the very important topic of internet access. In the outlying areas of the county, the infrastructure for telephone and DSL connections is rather limited. Typically, these areas are updated last and competing companies don’t focus on population areas of lower density. Telecommunications contracts are negotiated by the county commissioners (they are the legislative branch in the county). In addition, it’s important to note that consumers may have other options, including satellite-based internet access and broadband access (via cellular telephone towers). However, both are limited in applicability, depending on where one lives.
The last question concerns the discharge of firearms in the county. Although prohibited in the city, the discharge of firearms in the county is limited (based on the density of the residential area), but legal. Again, i would recommend bringing this issue to the attention of the county commissioners. As the the legislative arm of county government, they are in a position to consider any changes to the firearms ordinance in the county.
I hope these responses are helpful. Please drop me a note via e-mail or reply to this blog entry if you have any further questions on these topics or others.
