TRANSPORTATION MEETS TO SHIFT GEARS TO FUNDING

Ward 1 residents who attended Saturday's Vision 2000 transportation public meeting were wondering if they were merely paying lip service to change or if their input would actually result in better and safer roads.

"That's why we're holding these meetings," said Al Stoverink, who presided over one of two discussion panels at the Red Star Baptist Church. "We want to hear what you think are the most important needs so they can be considered with the rest of the projects."

One woman said if she is going to vote on a proposed transportation tax, she would have to know that streets in her neighborhood would one day transform from gravel to pavement.

The City Council voted unanimously for putting a transportation tax on the August ballot in February. However, the council voted against putting it on the ballot in a March meeting.

The City Council is awaiting input from the public before further discussion on the measure.

City Manager J. Ronald Fischer said a transportation tax would likely make paving streets affordable.

"Instead of paying $50 a square foot, you would be paying a lot less because the cost would be shared with the help of the transportation tax," Fischer said.

Streets deemed in need of pavement or other improvement include Dixie, Magnolia, Jasmine and Rand. "Everyone here wants those streets taken care of," Stoverink said. "What it comes down to is finding a way to pay for it."

Although Saturday's meeting was supposed to be about identifying transportation projects that need the most urgent attention, residents were more concerned with how such projects would be funded.

"That actually works well with what we'll be talking about in our next meeting," City Councilman Melvin Gateley said. "Now that we know what you people want, we can start talking about how to pay for the cost of the projects."

The next Vision 2000 transportation meeting will take place Tuesday at the First Baptist Church Activity Center, 926 Broadway.

Saturday's meeting marked the conclusion of discussions about what kind of transportation projects should be considered in the capital improvement plan after 1995.