Dear editor,
Road conditions in our county remain a significant concern, with many roads deteriorating. Unfortunately, there is currently no funding for road improvements included in SPLOST No. 10, which will be on the ballot in November.
However, during the Board of Commissioners meeting on Tuesday, July 15, the Putnam County Board of Commissioners voted to allocate $3.6 million from the fund balance for road improvements over a six-year period.
Given that this $3.6 million will be spread across six years and four districts, it is evident that this amount will not suffice. I have heard the cost to pave roads is approximately $300,000 per mile. As a result, we will still be in urgent need of paving, as approximately three miles of road per district over six years will not even begin to address the problem.
While I acknowledge that some roads, such as Scott Road and Sammons Parkway, have been paved, I wanted to gather comprehensive data and submitted an open records request asking, “Please provide a list of roads that have been paved (completed) over the last three year,s including the details of miles paved and associated costs.”
I was shocked to receive a response stating: “The Putnam County Board of Commissioners does not possess documents or records that are responsive to your request.”
It is worth noting that other inquiries related to public works have received responses through the Open Records portal, so this was not a matter of asking in the wrong place.
As someone who pays close attention to details, I believe the county should track and log all maintenance on roads, including when they are paved, when they experience flooding. When potholes are repaired, etc. ... Over time, this information provides valuable insights for identifying future needs, particularly as personnel changes occur in the county.
Why did Putnam County claim there were no records available? Is this simply another example of a lack of transparency or poor record-keeping within the county? You decide.
Regardless, the fact that we contribute millions of dollars in tax revenue, and Putnam County cannot disclose how this money is spent on roads, is incredibly frustrating.
Even Charlie Brown would be shouting, “Good grief!”
Sincere thanks, Jennifer Ray, (facebook.com/groups/taxpayerwatchdoggroupputnamcountyga)