After hearing the mayor's remarks on the local radio station regarding the petitions that were turned in to the head of the Public Works Committee on Monday, I would like to rebut some of his claims. He claims that the widening of 8th Street and 9th Street project was started in 2003 and the public has had numerous times to express their opposition to this project and they didn't. He stated that coming forward in the 11th hour before the project takes place is not good enough and the project needs to continue forward.
Before I answer his claims I would like to state first, that I was not involved in putting forth these petitions and do not know who all the people were that were involved in circulating these petitions. I was told there were several. A sealed envelope was given to me to turn into the Public Works Committee. I do not know why it was given to me, but I can only surmise that it was because I have always voiced my opposition publicly about the widening of the street. Because a relative owns property on this corridor, I have abstained several times from voting on this matter.
Back in 2003, there were several meetings held at the Senior Center in which representatives from an engineering firm were putting on a presentation regarding the widening of 8th and 9th streets and answered questions from the public (they had engineering drawings of the proposed new road on the wall). The room was filled with property owners and the mood was tense. People expressed their opposition to this project then. Since that time, whenever it seemed that the project was getting closer and closer to starting, people were calling over at City Hall to voice their opposition only to have it fall on deaf ears. Then there was a period when the project was delayed and several times it seemed as though the project was dead in the water only to be resurrected again. During this time, the people experienced feelings of confusion, frustration, anger and relief (relief when they thought the project was not going forward). When talk started up again about the project continuing, more calls were made to City Hall (I know the mayor was even called) and then a petition was circulated. I was told the petition came about because the people opposing this project felt that this was their last resort. The petition was circulated over several months and the signers were not only people that lived along the corridor but also people that were property owners (taxpayers) in other parts of the city that felt this widening was unwarranted.
After the City Council meeting on Tuesday, the mayor said that the people that have received their checks from the city have cashed them and if they were opposed to the project, then why did they cash the checks. Well, think about it ... the property owners were told to accept the payment (even if you had another appraisal done) or the land would be taken from them by eminent domain ... What would you have done? I'd cash the check and receive something rather than have the land taken by eminent domain and receive nothing. What choice did they have?
Before the last Public Works meeting, a statement was made - why hasn't the public been coming to these meetings? That's how the 16th Avenue road work assessments to property owners on that street was stopped. Well, this is your opportunity. This Monday, Jan. 25, at 4:30 p.m. in City Hall, there will be a special Public Works Committee meeting and this matter of the petition will be on the agenda. This may be the last opportunity for the public to express their opinions on this matter before decisions are made. If you truly want the Common Council to hear your oppositions, then please come to this special meeting.
Before I answer his claims I would like to state first, that I was not involved in putting forth these petitions and do not know who all the people were that were involved in circulating these petitions. I was told there were several. A sealed envelope was given to me to turn into the Public Works Committee. I do not know why it was given to me, but I can only surmise that it was because I have always voiced my opposition publicly about the widening of the street. Because a relative owns property on this corridor, I have abstained several times from voting on this matter.
Back in 2003, there were several meetings held at the Senior Center in which representatives from an engineering firm were putting on a presentation regarding the widening of 8th and 9th streets and answered questions from the public (they had engineering drawings of the proposed new road on the wall). The room was filled with property owners and the mood was tense. People expressed their opposition to this project then. Since that time, whenever it seemed that the project was getting closer and closer to starting, people were calling over at City Hall to voice their opposition only to have it fall on deaf ears. Then there was a period when the project was delayed and several times it seemed as though the project was dead in the water only to be resurrected again. During this time, the people experienced feelings of confusion, frustration, anger and relief (relief when they thought the project was not going forward). When talk started up again about the project continuing, more calls were made to City Hall (I know the mayor was even called) and then a petition was circulated. I was told the petition came about because the people opposing this project felt that this was their last resort. The petition was circulated over several months and the signers were not only people that lived along the corridor but also people that were property owners (taxpayers) in other parts of the city that felt this widening was unwarranted.
After the City Council meeting on Tuesday, the mayor said that the people that have received their checks from the city have cashed them and if they were opposed to the project, then why did they cash the checks. Well, think about it ... the property owners were told to accept the payment (even if you had another appraisal done) or the land would be taken from them by eminent domain ... What would you have done? I'd cash the check and receive something rather than have the land taken by eminent domain and receive nothing. What choice did they have?
Before the last Public Works meeting, a statement was made - why hasn't the public been coming to these meetings? That's how the 16th Avenue road work assessments to property owners on that street was stopped. Well, this is your opportunity. This Monday, Jan. 25, at 4:30 p.m. in City Hall, there will be a special Public Works Committee meeting and this matter of the petition will be on the agenda. This may be the last opportunity for the public to express their opinions on this matter before decisions are made. If you truly want the Common Council to hear your oppositions, then please come to this special meeting.
