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As part of a large transportation public hearing this week, the city unveiled its proposed plans for the new Gateways Project that will affect West Hill Avenue from Interstate 75 to downtown, and Madison Highway from the airport to South Patterson Street.
The sweeping plans call for extensive landscaping in addition to placing the utilities underground along the corridor. After initial plans were printed in The Times, the West Hill plan was modified to show a few curb cuts before the drawings were presented to the public. Business owners all along the corridors were quite vocal in their concerns. Some walked away mollified; others walked away very unhappy.
But the overwhelming question asked in the public meeting and on The Times reader’s forum continues to be one that has yet to be addressed by the city — where’s the money?
No money is currently budgeted for these improvements, no budget for the amount that these improvements would cost has been presented, and yet the Valdosta City Council will vote in August on the preliminary plan — without knowing the final cost?
At best, those in attendance were in agreement that the immediate area of the interchange at Exit 16 needs to be beautified and made to look more welcoming and inviting to visitors. If there’s money left after that, then some landscaping along the corridor would be welcomed. But the lack of curb cuts into businesses, the wide center median, and the lack of planning for the large semi-trucks that routinely use that route make the plan in its current form unrealistic at best.
It’s great to aim high. It’s a good thing that city leaders are wanting to beautify segments of the community. But when there is an adverse affect on businesses, coupled with the lack of funding and a viable budget for the project, it’s not a project the community needs at this time.
What We Think
Where’s the money?
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Leaving NCLB behind
Georgia schools may be sighing in relief today, following the announcement that the U.S. Department of Education granted a waiver to the state, along with nine others, from the rigorous requirements of the No Child Left Behind act.
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Don’t jettison landmark
While we respect the request to relocate the F-86 aircraft from outside Mathis City Auditorium to the new Moody Air Force Base Airpark, we would hope the city and MAFB would reconsider moving it.
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Shame in Berrien County
Unfortunately for Sherrie Williams of the Berrien County school-based health clinic, she talked to The Times and praised the program that she oversees. This pride in her work led to the loss of her job.
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Grading policy: A second chance?
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Be up to any weather challenge
Georgia’s Severe Weather Awareness Week starts today and runs through Friday. The idea behind the week is to prepare Georgians for weather emergencies and how to keep these situations from becoming tragedies.
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Parents and schools
There is a lot of talk lately about school systems and grading policies, and how all of a child's problems come back to a lack of parenting. But is it really that simple? Can it be a case where the school systems are so focused on the problem few that the majority of students are ignored?
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Thumbs up, thumbs down
THUMBS UP: To Brooks County High School engineering and technology teacher Don Morgan and his students. They recently received national attention for their work with biodiesel fuel. They collect used cooking oil from area fast-food restaurants then process this oil into biodiesel. Morgan hopes to next interest the Brooks County school buses into running on the fuel created in his class. This classroom not only prepares students for the future but may prepare all of us for an alternative energy source.
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Take me out to the ball park
The Valdosta State baseball season begins today. The Blazers host Lindenwood at 2:30 p.m. Nothing beats quality baseball played in warm weather with a great venue like Billy Grant Field.
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What We Think: Signing Day
Wednesday was National Signing Day, the day when high school athletes across the country make official announcements about what school they’ve chosen to sign with.
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School policy fails expectations
Lowndes County Schools recently implemented new grading guidelines for students. These guidelines have left many parents upset ...
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Leaving NCLB behind
