Town Hall Meeting Minutes
Congressman David Scott
August 1, 2009
Widening and Realignment of SR 92 in Douglasville
Congressman David Scott held a Town Hall Meeting on August 1, 2009 to discuss the
proposed widening and realignment of SR 92 in Douglasville. Scheduled to take place
from 10:00am to 12:00pm, the meeting continued until 2:00pm to ensure that all
questions and concerns were addressed. Project overviews and presentations providing
support of the project were delivered by Congressman Scott, Georgia Department of
Transportation (GDOT) Board Member Dana Lemon, Douglasville Mayor Mickey
Thompson, Douglasville City Manager Bill Osborne, Douglasville Councilwoman Callye
Burk Holmes, Douglasville Councilwoman LaShun Burr Danley, and GDOT’s Neal
O’Brien (see attached agenda).
After the presentations, the floor was opened to all citizens who wanted to ask questions
or express concerns regarding the SR 92 projects. Approximately 29 citizens provided
questions or comments. Twenty-eight of the 29 commentors expressed support for the
project. The following is a summarization of each of the questions and comments
expressed. When applicable, the comments are followed in italics with the response
received at the meeting.
1. Commissioner Kelly Robinson, Douglas County Board of Commissioners –
Commissioner Robinson expressed his support for the project. The SR 92
project is a very important project extending through three Douglas County
districts. We have a vision for Douglas County which speaks to a better, wellbalanced life. Specifically, around a better community, more villages right down
that corridor. This is so important from an infra-structure perspective because it
will pave the way. I appreciate you coming here, sharing, and being open to this.
Government should be about this. This is a great accountability meeting. We
appreciate you being here and opening yourself up. You have my support.
2. Mr. Mike Stephens, Chair-elect Douglasville-Douglas County Chamber of
Commerce – Mr. Stephens offered his and the Chamber’s support for the project.
We believe the project is vital to the improvement of our community and the traffic
flow through our downtown corridor, in addition to taking some of the traffic of
Highway 92 South and Campbellton Street, which is truly a residential street. It
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really provides tremendous opportunity to also continue to improve the downtown
corridor, continue to focus energy and effort on bringing people to downtown, not
to pass through but because they want to spend money, time and energy on our
community. We are very much in favor of the project. We are also in favor of the
project because of the economic development opportunity it provides the northern
part of our county. We appreciate the opportunities.
3. Ms. Rhonda Muhammad, North Side Resident – As a north Douglasville resident,
it has been her feeling that the north side has been historically underserved and
disenfranchised. She wants to be sure that this project, which will largely serve
Paulding County and South Douglas County, will not significantly affect the north
side community. As such, Ms. Muhammad expressed five primary concerns: 1)
due to the economy and housing market, suitable replacement housing for the
displacements may be difficult to find, particularly for low-income renters, 2)
access should be provided between the new roadway and the fire station located
on the east side of existing SR 92, just south of Autrey Circle, 3) concerns about
the senior citizen displacements, some of whom may paid off their mortgages and
cannot afford a new mortgage, 4) concerns about the quality of life for those
remaining in the community that are not displaced, and 5) making the process
clear to the community so that they can decide what remediation need to be
made.
Congressman Scott, the Mayor Mickey Thompson, and Deputy Commissioner
Gerald Ross each assured the public that this project would not proceed until the
people of the north side community and others affected by the project are
satisfied with the project and that adverse effects to the community are mitigated.
The next step in project development is to engage the community and develop a
plan to address the community’s concern. The displacements will be provided
assistance in finding appropriate replacement housing. Congressman Scott
asked that his office be provided data regarding the displacements, specifically
the number and location of the elderly and minority displacements. He also
asked that visual representations could be provided for future meetings so that
the community would have a better idea of what is proposed. Congressman
Scott asked that Ms. Mohammad work with his Chief of Staff, Michael Andel, so
that the Congressman’s office can be assured that all of her concerns were met.
Ms. Mohammad agreed to join the Congressman in a driving tour of the proposed
alignment after the Town Hall Meeting so that she could point out the areas of her
concern.
4. Mr. Randy Hulsey, Transportation Director, Douglas County Department of
Transportation – Mr. Hulsey stated that the county’s new comprehensive plan
lists transportation as the county’s number one priority and that the plan further
lists the SR 92 project as the number one transportation priority. This
prioritization was approved by both the city and the county. Mr. Hulsey
emphasized that the project is important for safety, mobility, and economic
development.
Regarding safety, a grade separated railroad crossing is
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desperately needed to accommodate emergency vehicles. Regarding mobility,
SR 92 is the most dominant regional mobility corridor in the county. The Atlanta
Regional Commission has identified SR 92 on the regional arterial grid system
and the regional strategic transportation system network. As such, this is a
regional project that needs regional focus and emphasis. Regarding economic
development, this project is a potential growth opportunity that would help correct
the historic disenfranchisement of the area north of the railroad tracks that has
occurred due to limited access from the railroad barrier.
Congressman Scott asked that Mr. Hulsey work with the State (GDOT) and
Douglasville decision-makers to satisfy some of the issues that Ms. Muhammad
raised.
5. Pastor Artis Crum, Light & Salvation Church – Pastor Crum is a pastor at a
church with a day care center. The church and daycare center is negatively
affected every day that the project is delayed. The volume and speed of the
existing traffic is dangerous and the delays waiting to get in and out of the road is
very excessive. We need an immediate solution. Pastor Crum is also concerned
for friends that have a day care and businesses at Big Lots.
Congressman Scott asked that a traffic cop be provided first thing Monday
morning at the daycare. Mayor Thompson agreed to provide one.
6. Mr. Simpson, Simpson and Daughters Mortuary – Mr. Simpson emphasized that
we are no longer in the country. We are urban now, we are downtown and we
need to act like it! We need to be patient, cooperate, and learn to work together.
7. Mr. John Sell, New Area Manager for Georgia Power, New Member Douglas
County Chamber of Commerce – Mr. Sell emphasized that the project was
needed for safety and economic development for the north side of Douglasville.
The project is needed so that Georgia Power can get across the tracks to
respond to emergencies in the community.
Mr. Sell emphasized that
transportation is the #1 priority in Douglas County and that the SR 92 project was
the #1 prioritized transportation project. He emphasized that he, along with
Georgia Power and the Chamber of Commerce, support the project.
8. Ms. Rochelle Springer, on behalf of her parents, residents of the north side
community – Ms. Springer is concerned about her elderly parents, Harold and
Annie Bell Springer, who have lived at 7950 Dallas Highway for 45 years and will
be displaced by the project. For several years she has been doing as directed
by GDOT – obtaining appraisals and preparing for the move. They have
postponed improvements due to the schedule uncertainty. Now they are
concerned because of the market turn. They are concerned that they will be
offered less than what it was appraised for a couple of years ago. Ms. Springer’s
parents are also affected by the existing traffic on Dallas Highway, which is
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terrible. Ms. Springer is also concerned about their neighbor, Mr. Scottie Spencer
who will also be displaced by the project.
Deputy Commissioner Gerald Ross assured Ms. Springer that we have his
commitment to keep this project on its current schedule, which is to begin right-ofway acquisition in June, 2011. However, we need public input to proceed.
Assistance will be provided to determine who may meet the early right-of-way
acquisition criteria. At Congressman Scott’s request, names and contact
numbers of people interested in early acquisitions were taken by GDOT
representatives for further coordination. Mr. Osborne emphasized that anyone
that may be interested in early right-of-way acquisition should also fill out
comment forms.
9. Ms. Sharon Nettles, Fulgham Drive Homeowner – Ms. Nettles wanted to be
assured that the residents of Fulgham Drive would be treated fairly and not just
pushed out of their homes.
10. Mayor Mickey Thompson, City of Douglasville – Mayor Thompson expressed the
City’s support of the project. The City of Douglasville has hired Croy Engineering
to make sure that those people affected by the project receive the information.
The City has spent $2.7 million on this project so far and the City considers it a
wise investment. Mayor Thompson also expressed appreciation for the $6 million
Congressional earmark.
Congressman Scott, Mr. David Johnson from Congressman Scott’s office, and
Ms. Marcia Hampton from the City of Douglasville emphasized the importance of
the written comment forms.
11. Mr. Esau Birdsong, Resident at 7841 Dallas Hwy – Has lived on the intersection
of Dallas Highway and Brown Street since March of 1959. This project is critical
for safety, traffic and for the railroad crossing. The traffic is terrible. We need
change and we need to move on even though some may not be happy. We just
need to up the schedule so that it happens in his lifetime and we need to make
sure that everyone is treated fairly.
12. Ms. Thelma Bennett, North Side Resident – Ms. Bennett works at a day care
center on SR 92. The traffic is too dangerous, too bad. Lives, jobs and
mortgages could be lost. We need a traffic light or a traffic cop right now.
Deputy Commissioner Gerald Ross assured Ms. Bennett that an evaluation will
be done starting next week to see if a signal is warranted or what else can be
done to alleviate the problem.
13. Ms. Kim Banks, Owner of Majestic Learning Center, 6625 Brown Street – Ms.
Banks’ business will be directly impacted by the proposed alignment but not
displaced. She offered support for the project and stated that it was needed due
to the traffic and the difficulties getting on and off existing SR 92.
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Congressman Scott emphasized the importance of the upcoming community
meetings which are expected to occur in September. At the community meetings
we will meet with the neighborhood, listen to the concerns, and figure out how to
address and mitigate them. We expect to have the Public Information Open
House no less than 2 months from now and no more than 3 months from now.
Congressman Scott hopes to attend; however, it depends on his schedule in
Washington.
14. Mr. James Vance, Resident – Mr. Vance indicated that he wished to talk with Mr.
Hulsey and would meet up with him after the meeting.
15. City Councilmember John R. Schildroth, Ward 4 – Mr. Schildroth has been
waiting to see this project for 25 years. The project is needed for safety reasons.
The project has his full support and the full support of the City Council. Please
expedite the process.
16. Ms. Chantel Small, Resident – The project is needed for safety and the efficiency
of emergency vehicles. She lives at the intersection of Huey and East Strickland.
She and her five year old have witnessed many accidents and speeding trucks.
The efficiency of the project is important to help those people on the north side of
the tracks who have been disenfranchised. Make it fast. Ms. Small has a
disability and is a single mom with a five year old. Emergency vehicles need to
come to her house on the north side of the tracks about twice a year. Questions
and Concerns: How will Durelee Lane intersect with the new SR 92? There is an
existing pedestrian crossing between the Eastside Elementary School Complex
and the apartment buildings right across from there. Will the pedestrian crossing
remain?
Congressman Scott re-emphasized that this project needs to be completed
quickly. A residential area has become a truck route and that needs to be
rectified.
17. Mr. Terrence Smith, on behalf of Ms. Brandy Grant, Resident of Avalon Township
– Communication of the upcoming community meetings is very important.
Because of the elderly and high traffic speeds in the area, it is important that we
have bigger signs than what is typically done and posted in lots of places. He
appreciated the e-mail from Councilmember Holmes informing him of the Town
Hall Meeting.
Gerald Ross stated that a meeting would be held next week to determine.
Congressman Scott again re-emphasized the importance of the upcoming
community meetings and advised the project team to find the community leaders
to help to get the word out about the upcoming meetings. The Congressman
also offered the services of his office to help get the word out about the upcoming
meetings.
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18. Councilwoman Callye Burke Holmes, Ward 3 – I wanted to take the opportunity
to explain what the Environmental Justice piece is for those who might be
wondering. This project will affect a lot of citizens but it boils down to race
because the Hispanic community and African American community are amongst
those most affected. One reason why there is a lot of delay in the Environmental
Justice piece is because we need to hear from the citizens. And each time a
meeting is held, we have – this is the largest turnout that I am aware of since
2006. Councilwomen Danly and I personally walked this neighborhood, been
door-to-door, business to business, to bring in our Hispanic Community because
we also need to hear from them. So the Environmental Justice piece does have
a lot to do with race. And so, when you think of things being delayed or
postponed, it is because this project cannot move forward until they hear from
every ethnic group which is the Environmental Justice piece. On behalf of the
Federal Highway Commission, who pays for 80% of this project, they were not
able to come because of previous plans. And so, with some advance notice and
working with GDOT and Congressman Scott’s office we should be able to move
forward but if we can stick together and come out in droves to give our input,
whatever it is, that is a major concern.
The next thing I wanted to discuss is the importance of the businesses on SR 92.
Congressman Scott, there is also a concern once the bypass is completed,
what’s going to happen to the small businesses between Malone Road and
Strickland Street and the families there? I know that there is a wheelchair
population from Malone Road to North Dallas Highway/SR92, a small group but
they are still wheelchair bound so we have a wheelchair population that need to
get back and forth to medical services besides postal services and groceries. So
those are some of the major concerns and I don’t know if some of these folks are
here but hopefully they’ll bring those things up in the comment area. Thank you
Congressman Scott and I would like to put a plea to everyone to please
participate. That is the only way that we can move forward from this point and
that has been the major delay since the project has begun, not enough input.
Congressman Scott offered his thanks to City Officials who were responsible for
the wonderful turn-out at the Town Hall Meeting.
19. Ms. Spencer, daughter of North side residents, Mr. and Ms. Scotty Spencer –
Thanks for the opportunity to comment. I recognize the opportunities for
economic development and the traffic issues that we deal with as a resident to be
displaced but I do have some personal concerns. Besides the residences that
may have no mortgages or may have property that do not have values that are
going to appraise enough to warrant a right-of-way value to get them something
comparable. Or folks that are wanting to do repairs on their home but are waiting
that out. There are also residents in the area, like ourselves, that have mortgages
on the property that exceeds what the current right-of-way values are and we
want to make sure that this is addressed appropriately as well because it is not
our fault that the market took a downturn and we decided to do upgrades on our
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home prior to hearing about the place this project is at and I wanted to make sure
that we are not displaced owing on a mortgage and having to make a new
mortgage as well.
Deputy Commissioner Gerald Ross assured Mr. Spencer that the project will stay
on its current schedule of June 2011 for right-of-way acquisition, which is two
years away. He stated that it has been the Department’s experience that the
downturns of property occurs at the replacement structure also. He also stated
that he has options regarding displacement reimbursements that the people in his
right-of-way office do not. Mr. Ross stated that early right-of-way acquisition may
also be available to the elderly or those with health issues. Congressman Scott
stated that fairness is the top concern.
20. Pastor James Montford – Pastor Montford pastors people in the project area and
expressed concerns for the senior citizens who would be displaced by the project.
He also expressed concerns for the safety of the children and elderly at “the
Honey Hole” (the public housing community adjacent to Jessie Davis Park), as
well as concerns for the impacts that the project would have on Jessie Davis
Park.
Neal O’Brien, GDOT, stated that the only impacts anticipated to the park would be
a minor change in access to the park.
21. Ms. Sara Whitaker, a long-time north side resident and mother of Councilwoman
LaShun Danley – Many years ago her house burnt completely to the ground
because emergency vehicles could not get over the tracks in time to save
anything. Keep the project moving!
22. Councilman Terry Miller, Ward 5 – This is a project of regional significance and
one of the things we learn in architecture school is patience because just because
you design something and draw up the plans it doesn’t mean they’ll build it very
quickly or forever for that matter. This community has been very, very patient for
quite a number of years. Since then, it has moved along. A balance has to be
drawn between expediency and care and I think that is a great deal of what we
are seeing although some may like to see it a little faster. It is imperative that we
move it as quickly as possible and I’m glad that you are here taking resident’s
concerns into account and making this a good project from top to bottom.
23. Pastor Willy Allman and Ms. Beverly Allman – Although Ms. Allman supports the
project, she is concerned about people who may be displaced from a more rural
setting and do not wish to be relocated to a sub-division. Pastor Allman is happy
to see that the project is moving forward.
Congressman Scott was confident that there would be a large range of
replacement housing available for those that do not wish to live in a subdivision.
It was emphasized that the people will be able to choose where they relocate to.
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Mr. Ross stated that the Department would assist the people who are displaced
to find something as good or better than their current situation.
24. Mr. Sam Davis, north side resident and business owner – Some of you may not
know me but Jessie Davis Park was named after my father, my mother Beulah
still lives on the north side, I reside on the north side, and I have a business on
the north side, The Barber Zone where David Scott always comes for a visit and
sends Christmas cards and invites and it is always a pleasure. This is a move
that we need to make and I welcome that move because if we don’t do it now, we
will never see it and I’m gonna make sure you can come in the barber shop any
time you get ready, my doors are always open and you can come in with your
comments and we will write them out, sign them, give them to me, and I will make
sure they get to the right individual. I will make sure that your comment is heard
and those that will be relocated, don’t worry, smile because this is an opportunity
and a chance of a lifetime that we’ve been needing on the north side. And, it’s
going to affect me because I have cars all the time passing my barber shop. I’m
not going to cry. I’m just going to have to go to another plan. I’m going to step it
up, make it happen! I’m not going to hold back progress. I want to see, I want to
live here when they build the condos in downtown Douglasville. I want to buy one
of those condos and live downtown and walk my dog. So I see the plan, it’s
going to happen. So people get ready, fasten your seatbelt, we are getting ready
to take off here in Douglas County!
25. Mr. Homer Danley, Former City Councilman – I was on the City Council about 20
years ago. We started this 25 years ago when it was championed under Senator
Dean and it was going to cost between 5 and 8 million, now it’s 75 to 100 million.
Many who championed the same idea, the cause have passed away. My hope is
that in my lifetime I can see this project come to pass but I’m concerned about
that. One of the concerns the federal government has about the stimulus money
is that the people are not spending the money. They put the money out there and
it never gets spend and that would be tragic if this project never takes place. I
worked on this project 23 years ago and here we are talking two years. I came to
the meeting in 2006 and we were talking about something happening and thought
we would have moved some dirt by now. And here we are talking about another
year and another year and Congressman, its going to be your job to see if you
can expedite this happening. And, I’ll tell you this, one of the problems is that
Congressman Scott is a congressman today but if he is not a Congressman
tomorrow and someone else comes in and its not on their priority list, it gets
pushed to the back and it keeps going and going and going. So we have to keep
Congressman Scott in there to make sure this project gets done. My question is,
what about the businesses on 92. There are about 12 businesses there, that will
not be affected physically but you are going to be cutting off about 90% of the
traffic through there and my question to GDOT or somebody is, do you have a
plan to relocate these businesses or to compensate those businesses? Because
a lot of them will be basically put out of business when that road is closed.
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Neal O’Brien stated that there would still be access provided to those businesses.
Mr. Danley – No one will go down those roads and there will be new business on
the new corridor.
Congressman Scott stated that we should get with the Douglas Chamber, GDOT,
all of us and try to come up with a business plan for that area. To see, as part of
this impact study, to see if there is going to be a viable place for these businesses
that are going to be impacted by moving the traffic flow out and around that used
to come down there. Secondly, the traffic will then come from that way too. You’ll
be part of, closer to the downtown area and there are already plans to embody
the whole downtown area. I understand that the south side will lose a little too.
So what we need is a total business plan for that total area that will incorporate
the north side of the tracks with the south side of the tracks. I believe that the
Chamber is moving ahead with how to enhance that downtown area of
Douglasville. We are not moving downtown Douglasville, we are moving the road
and with that new road coming there is going to be new development and so forth
but I think we have enough smart people here to not let the downtown area die or
whither but it should be working to replenish itself and what I’m suggesting is that
those minority owned businesses incorporate their future with the total future of
that whole area north and south of the track and of course do a feasibility study to
see if life can be sustained there.
Gerald Ross stated that Congressman was absolutely correct. We will work with
the Chamber of Commerce to mitigate those impacts. We can’t pay to relocate
those businesses but what we’ve done in the past is put signs on the arterials to
make sure those people know the businesses that are there. This part of what
we are trying to do, go to the neighborhoods, find out what concerns are there,
and what we can do. In terms of buying or relocating businesses, per federal
regulations, we cannot do that. But working with the Chamber, we have other
ways of keeping those businesses alive with signs and things of that nature.
Mr. Danly – Won’t you be closing the railroad crossing? Are you still planning on
rerouting through McCarley?
Mr. Bill Osborne – We are still planning on closing the railroad and upgrading
McCarly. Mayor Mickey Thompson – The 92 crossing will be moved further west,
you can still cross but at a new location.
Congressman Scott – What we need to have at the next community meeting is a
full blown map of what this is going to look like once it’s done so everybody can
come and see how they will be affected, where it’s going to be moved. And then
we are going to take a look and see if these businesses, the area that has the
traffic cut off will be impacted. Because, if you can’t get the business coming
down to you, and its cut from this way coming back over the tracks, you got a
problem and so do the people who live in this area and so that is a serious,
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serious problem we’ll have to look at. We’ll make sure we address that. More
and more I’m wanting to come to this next meeting too because these are difficult
questions and I want to make sure we get it right.
26. Ms. Mitchell, on behalf of Henry Mitchell III, former Mayor Pro-tem – He has been
working diligently while in office, prior to going into office because we have an
aunt and uncle that will be directly affected so he has been working because he
wants them of course to get the proper values for their home, as well as the
others of that community. So you many not see him while not in office but he has
continued to work with Ms. Danley. Thank you.
27. Mr. Robert Turner, Winston resident who owns commercial property on SR 92 – I
own commercial property where the project begins. I’ve owned this property for
over 30 years. Its commercial and I operated a tire business out of it for a
number of years. And I’ve been very unsuccessful in being able to lease this
property due to the restrictions placed by the city as to who can be in there. On
June 1st I finally got an offer on the place for half the price I’ve been receiving
because the city had turned me down three times on businesses being located in
there and would not allow the license. Now my wife and I own this and we retired
on its income and this has been going on for 12 years now. And from my
perspective, I would like to see them either put the road in or cancel so I can
remodel my building and lease it for 5 to 10 years. The first thing a leaser will ask
you is “Can we lease if for 5 years?” Yes, we can but they walk away when they
find out about the realignment. That’s been going on for 11 years. I retired in ’73
and I’m now 84 and it’s made a direct impact on our income. I had a contract with
one of the major fast food chains that was run out when they build the new bridge
for I-20. At closing, when they found out there was going to be a realignment
there, the man stood up and said, “We don’t want to fool around with the DOT
any more!” and canceled the contract.
Congressman Scott – When did this happen?
Mr. Turner – This has been going on for 12 years and my wife and I have been
living off what we can make from this property.
Congressman Scott – Can we take down this mans name and number and get
back with him?
28. Mr. Warden – A couple of people who don’t feel comfortable have asked me to
speak. They are not sure what is proposed, 4 lanes or 6 lanes. And, if it is 6
lanes proposed, wouldn’t that be something like GA 400 with all those sound
barriers and stuff like that down the sides. If you do have to build a road like that,
will it restrict commercial access? So those are my questions: Will it have 4 or 6
lanes?, will it have sound barriers?, and will it be a GA 400 type road?
Gerald Ross – The road will not be a limited access facility but by permit only like
Lakewood Freeway. There will be sidewalks and a multi-use trail.
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Congressman Scott – What we need is some sort of visual representation of what
this area is going to look like. Who from DOT will be responsible for showing
what it would look like? Can we make it available to the public on the web-site,
TV, and at City Hall?
29. Ms. Aline Wadsworth, property owner at 6390 Brown Street – I have a rental
property on Brown Street that needs work on it but have been putting it off
because the project has been going on and on. I would like to tell my renters how
long it will be, how long they’ve got. My property has a red dot.
Congressman Scott – Make sure that GDOT has your name so we can give you
some direction.
30. Mr. Jeffrey Sizemore – This project has been going on for over 20 years and I’d
like to find out why, after seeing the scenario of how its progressed and
degressed, why we are at this position now and why also, after the stimulus
package was passed, none of these funds seem to be directed into getting this?
Is this an example of federal government too large to make this project happen
and is the delay because of bureaucracy?
Congressman Scott – The federal government has moved money, it’s here.
What has not been done is what’s being done right now at the city and local level
and what that is, is to make sure that citizens have their input and that’s what is
happening now. You can’t put this on the federal government. The money is
here, it’s down. We are ready to go. But what is important is that we can’t move
until the community is ready and that is why we are here today.
Mr. Sizemore – Didn’t I hear earlier that no federal money can be ear-marked until
the Value Engineering and Environmental Analysis, these things are to happen?
That’s my point. Those seem to be a federal regulation requirement and it has
been going on for so long and it is such a needed project. For over 20 years for
this to go on, there is some disconnect here.
Congressman Scott – The federal government cannot come and ram-rod a road
through a community until the community says it is pleased, it is satisfied, let’s go.
So that is where we are now. The money has already been appropriated and we
are waiting to get more. But you can’t just do it. You can’t run over people at the
local level.
31. Ms. Evangeline Smith, north side community member – I’m not directly affected
but as a member of the north side community I am affected. I commend the work
that has been done on this project and the people who have been moving it
forward. Hopefully, we are at a point. Congressman Scott, as an educator I
would like to thank you for the moment of silence to allow teachers and students
to pray before school if they so choose and I want to commend you on your
health fairs and scholarships for qualified students. I do want to reiterate two
effects to the north side community. One, access in and out of the larger
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community and also, two, fairness. Historically many project have been planned
for the north side community, but in the course of getting these funded and
applied, many times the north side community’s approved funds have gone
elsewhere. I’m hoping that will not be the case. Additionally, I have a question
about access to the large community. Right now I can get across the railroad in
about four places to have access to the community. I live near the railroad track,
two blocks over on Malone Street. I know the Mozley Street crossing is going to
be closed, the Campbellton Street crossing is going to be closed, the McCarley
Street crossing is going to be opened up somewhat from what it is now. What
about the Rose Avenue crossing and those other two crossings further down?
Will we still have access to them?
Bill Osborne – This project will not impact the Rose Avenue crossing. I’m not sure
if some of those openings to the west, I’m not sure if some of those small ones
will be closed. We haven’t reached that point yet.
Ms. Smith – Well, I would ask you to consider more than one crossing open for
the neighborhood. We talk about traffic now but it’s going to be a problem if we
can only have one crossing. Also, we can say that only the people that have to
be moved will be impacted but in reality we know that everybody on the north side
is going to be impacted in many ways. We have about four sets of public housing
that are all empty right now. I’m wondering how those are going to be impacted.
We have about three schools in the area. How are those going to be impacted?
How about the property values for people like myself, who live in an extremely old
house and who will not have to move. Will the fair market values that are already
depressed on some of those properties, will they be further depressed? How
does what we have now fit into the City’s 25 year plan? What about the historic
districts? What about the city services that we fought so hard to get at some
point? How will they be affected? Emergency situations, please consider.
Economic development, think about that too.
Congressman Scott – Those are all good points.
32. Councilwoman Callye Burke Holmes, Ward 3 – I just want to go back to the
gentleman in the brown shirt [Mr. Sizemore]. On behalf of the City, the
Environmental Justice piece that in my opinion, through my research, that has
slowed the process has been very low, has been very low involvement. But what
we’ve done through GDOT and others is to think of other ways to get the word
out. For instance, we do not have to meet here at the Downtown Conference
Center. GDOT is willing to go wherever the community is so we hope to present
an outline of locations of where the majority of people are so that we can go to
you instead of having you to come to us all the time to bring information to you.
There are churches, there are other aspects of this community, especially the
Hispanic community, grocery stores, there are other places where we hope to
speed the process up and move the process forward.
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33. Mr. Shelly Graham – My parents live off Malone Road in Augusta Woods. They
will be impacted by the road construction of 92. My concern is in emergency
situations. My parents are getting up in age and the railroad is there blocking
emergency vehicles. I’m concerned about that but I’m also concerned about...
[Mr. Graham continued to comment about matters not pertaining to the SR 92
transportation project].
34. Ms. Amy Norman – I own three houses here in Douglasville, two houses on
Dorsett Street that I use for rental property. There is one thing that I want to
make very clear on the fair market value. It is easy to say that I can get an
appraisal and that the city can get an appraisal and that we can come to an
agreement but the fact remains that I am holding onto those rental properties for
three or four years until the market comes back because the market values are
so low right now. So I just want to make sure that when the project comes
through and there is an appraisal or an assessment that it’s taken into
consideration if someone was planning on holding onto that property until later to
get the greatest market value they can and that it is taken into consideration
because I just had a house that in eight months, the appraisal value dropped
$100,000. and if I have that property now and you do an appraisal, and you give
me that fair market value, and I’m trying to hold onto it for three years to get the
greater market value, I want to make sure that’s taken into consideration so that I
don’t get the most value just because you are bringing the road through.
Although, I do support the road. I just want to make sure those things are heard
and considered.
The Town Hall Meeting continued regarding topics unrelated to the SR 92 transportation
project.
mm
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