It was my pleasure. Let’s do it again soon. Karen Grainey makes a good point that Kicklighter is so far off in developer mana he is just plain hard to listen to. Probably find loads of developer money in his wallet. Actually since he works for Ben Farmer Realty there is actual developer dollars in his wallet.

JM

But please let’s not be shy about naming names when quoting the publicly made statements of elected officials. The incumbent who said that bicycle lanes and transit improvements are “fluff” was District 7 Commissioner Dean Kicklighter. No one is challenging him in this election so we are guaranteed another four years of his input in the County Commission’s decision-making.

Three members of the Board of Commssioners do have challengers who have demonstrated strong support for a transportation system which will provide viable alternatives to the automobile. I am one of them. Please visit my blog http://www.karen4us.com to read more aboout my positions. My opponent, David Gellatly is saying all the right things in response to being challenged and made some positive statements at the forum in favor of bicycle lanes. However, actions speak louder than words and he has done nothing during his eight years on the Commission for better transportation planning in Chatham County. I implore everyone who wants to see action in this arena to vote against the incumbents who are being challenged in this election.

Karen Grainey
Candidate Chatham County Commission, District 6
http://www.karen4us.com

My understanding of the funding of Truman Linear Park phase II is that a substantial portion was a priority project (i.e. earmark). We have repeatedly asked the county for updates on “progress” but have gotten nowhere, only various versions of the same with a continually shifting deadline. Very frustrating, and hard to seek more federal dollars when you have not put the last project on the ground.

Remember these points which I made Tuesday night:

1. The Truman Linear Bike Trail was a SPLOST project from 1998. It has been fully funded for 8 years. As of today, the county has only built 1,316 feet of 21,056 planned feet. 6% completed in 8 years tells me the county isn’t run too well. By comparison, the Savannah Airport Authority doubled the covered parking at the airport in 9 months. The City of Savannah dug out Ellis Square to build a 4 story underground garage and it has taken only 2 years. Shows you how important cars are and how unconcerned the commission is with bicycle infrastructure.

2. SPLOST will not pass in 2012 if we don’t put important projects on the ballot. A County wide mass transit system needs to the first on the list.

3. “Stop wasteful spending and re-evaluate projects that have already been approved.” The average SPLOST project, from my experience on the commission, runs 60-150% over contract award. They pay the extra from the accured interest they collect by waiting 10 years to start the average project. Stephenson ave widening (.8 mile) was awarded at around 2 million dollars. It was finished at a cost of over 8 million.

M y advice, don’t vote for any incumbent because this is what you will get: More of the same.

John McMasters