Scottsboro, Alabama - March 3, 2019 -Update on the John T. Reed Parkway, U.S. Highway 72 Safety Improvement Project - Questions to the Scottsboro City Council

Scottsboro City Hall - photo by G. Morgan

Thursday, February 28, 2019 - I sent the following requests for information via Facebook Messenger to each City Council Member regarding the reasoning for their NO or YES vote on the County Park, U.S. Hwy 72 road project. Each member of the Scottsboro City Council acknowledged receiving the message related to the proposed County Park Rd., U.S. Highway 72 project. 

Message sent: Do you have any comment as to your NO or YES vote reasoning for the Hwy 72, County Park Road project. Info to be utilized on my blog. 

All blog articles related to this issue: https://arklite.blogspot.com/search/label/County%20Park%20Road%20US%20Hwy%2072%20Intersection

SHORT 1 MINUTE VIDEO OF THE IMPROVEMENT/SAFETY PROJECT

3 NO VOTES

Question: Do you have any comment as to your NO vote reasoning for the Hwy 72, County Park Road project. Info to be utilized on my blog.  

Gary Stewart

James Gary Stewart's Reply via Messenger: When this project was first brought up several months ago I stated at a Council work session that I thought the plan was not enough improvement for safety.

The area in front of Western Sizzlin has had more fatalities than County Park and 72. If the plan had included plans for further up the highway I would have been much more likely to vote for the plan. I also believe the proposed red light would make traffic worse being so close to the existing red light. Traffic already backs up beyond that point daily.

Greg Mashburn

Greg Mashburn's Reply via Facebook Timeline: All concerned citizens of Scottsboro,
I want to explain my no vote in Monday nights council meeting. I did not think that limiting access in and out of Taco Bell, McDonald’s, Calvary Church and the Chevron was a valid solution to heavy traffic times; if anything this would only have been a short term fix and possibly even caused more issues.I wanted to see the red light at county park intersection and hwy 35 working properly before a decision was made on spending over 100k.
I would like to focus on completing the service roads and look at putting a light at Byron road making 72 access safer. I will never be against any business willing to invest in Scottsboro or its citizens. I couldn’t in good conscience vote for something that is only an estimate, when we are asking the people of Scottsboro to fund our own SRO’s. Our budgets have to be on point when considering old/new construction. We have several projects that will need funding and paving streets is one that will definitely need attention sooner rather than later. I appreciate everyone’s concern on this matter because we are a community that will thrive on being united.

Thank you,
Greg Mashburn

Patrick Stewart

City Council President Patrick Stewart's Reply:: "You can get my quote from the Jackson County Sentinel. Brad came by and interviewed me Tuesday." Feb. 28, 2019 article by Brad Nevels titled, (link)  City Council Votes Against Highway Safety Project  The Sentinel may require a subscription to view this story. 

2 YES VOTES 

Question: Do you have any comment as to your YES vote reasoning for the Hwy 72, County Park Road project. Info to be utilized on my blog. 

Pudge Bailey

Richard Pudge Bailey's Reply via Messenger:  As you’re aware being at the work session the week before, we have an opportunity to develop in this area. I ran for council because I wanted to represent all the people of Scottsboro. Any developments create more jobs. Also the retail creates more tax revenue for the city. This would of also corrected the situation with the access road on the west bound side of 72 by connecting it. I understand there were concerns about the Taco Bell entrance. The mayor had did the leg work of meeting with the business owners to help them understand the need for this. To my knowledge none were against it. 72/County Park area is one of the busiest intersections in Scottsboro. Having the state pay for 90% of improvements to help bring in more retail & help with traffic flow would be a good thing for Scottsboro.

Mike Ashburn

Mike Ashburn's Reply via Messenger: The County Park, U.S. Hwy 72 intersection Grant Project was in the process for months before I was elected to the Scottsboro City Council. Before and after being elected I researched this project. Being a resident I noticed problems with this intersection with heavy traffic, delays and accidents. An engineering firm was hired by the City to do a traffic study and recommend improvements for this heavy traffic count intersection within the City. The Alabama Department of Transportation approved a grant of over a million dollars to improve the intersection with the City paying around 10 percent of the cost thus giving the City 900 thousand to improve this intersection. This project in my opinion will be an improvement to both U.S. Hwy 72 and County Park Road to help with the traffic flow especially at peak times when traffic is heavy. Developers of property on U.S. Hwy 72 have stated that the improvements at the intersection will help with retail facilities along this area that will be a benefit for all of us in the City of Scottsboro for shopping and entertainment. Additional retail outlets will allow for more shopping and dining here in our City that will increase our tax base thus allowing more City services to be had by the residents.

For the City Council Members that took the time to provide a reply, thank you. You represent responsible, open government and government stewardship for the people.  

**Food for Thought**

Council members voting no, if you will read your statements carefully you should recognize the problem apparent regarding your NO vote. 

 Since all of you agree safety improvements are needed, it is a matter of deciding priorities. 

Money has already been spent on engineering, design and approval for County Park Rd and Hwy 72 safety improvement. Where is the place to start if not there?