PUBLIC HEARING TONIGHT ON SCENIC BYWAY PLANS

BLOOMFIELD -- A large crowd is expected tonight for a public hearing on the Crowley Ridge Scenic Byway project in the Bootheel, but Stoddard County officials are wondering if the really important people -- those who could answer a lot of questions -- will indeed show up.

A joint hearing between Stoddard, Dunklin and Scott counties will be held 7 p.m. tonight in the Bloomfield School District cafeteria to allow advocates and opponents to make their arguments in the effort to obtain state and federal designation of a scenic byway through the three counties.

But the Stoddard County Commission, which has been essentially supportive of the effort since its beginning several months ago, Monday was less receptive, noting that key questions are begging for answers.

Presiding Commissioner Jerry Elder said he is concerned that U.S. Transportation Secretary Rodney Slater has not responded to a set of questions about a byway put to his office by U.S. Rep. Jo Ann Emerson's staff. "I called yesterday afternoon and Emerson's office still had had no response," Elder said during Monday's session of the County Commission. "I'm disappointed that we haven't received something" from the federal agency, he said.

While advocates of a scenic byway designation are preparing to make one last push before the County Commission takes a position on the application, those opposed to the effort are preparing to make their case. as well.

The directors of the Stoddard County Farm Bureau voted recently to oppose the designation of any rural portion of the county as a scenic byway. The move came after the agency reviewed material related to scenic byways and Crowley Ridge Parkway, according to a letter issued by county Farm Bureau President Gilbert Woolard. "The documentation raises great concerns over potential infringements upon the rights of private property owners of Stoddard County," Woolard said.

Gary Capps, the county's economic development coordinator, said it's unclear if the Farm Bureau action will have any impact on the decision to move forward with or scrap the project. "I don't know if that has any bearing on it or not. I wouldn't think so," he said.

Capps has been serving as the facilitator for Stoddard County's scenic byway advisory group.

He said the most important information that can be presented at the public hearing are the answers from the federal transportation agency. "I think good, solid answers to those questions would alleviate, or exacerbate, the concerns of the people, depending on the answers."

Of particular concern to Stoddard officials is the scope of authority of federal and state transportation agencies within a byway corridor. For instance, county officials said they are hopeful that federal and state authority will be limited to the narrow right-of-way running alongside the roads that comprise the byway and not extend into the corridor's "viewshed."

Capps said he is hopeful the answers will arrive from Washington in time for tonight's hearing. "It would make the hearing a lot more meaningful if we had those answers," he said.