LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: COUNTY NEEDS TO KEEP ITS WORD ON ROAD PAVING

To the editor:

I am a homeowner in Cape Girardeau County. I live in a rural area because I choose to. I like rural life and know that being out near Whitewater has both advantages and disadvantages. Many of us out here in the western and southern parts of the county don't feel that we are well-represented by the County Commission. Why would we want to allow them more control over us and our property?

In 1995 I called the County Commission's office to ask about the road-paving plan that was supposedly in place. I was told that my road would be paved in "a couple of years." For those next couple of years, I sat quietly by waiting for some action. I called again in 1998 and was told that there was a priority order and that we weren't close enough to the top to get anything done that year. I began calling early in 1999 and was told to get a petition and easements signed on our road, and we could get some paving done.

My husband and I, with the help of some neighbors, did just as we were asked. We had a petition signed and obtained easements from one end of the road to the other, approximately 3 to 4 miles and 20 landowners.

When our paving was finished, we had approximately 1 mile of road done. It didn't even extend to my home and overran what some landowners paid to have done before.

Apparently, my experience isn't an isolated one. I have talked with several other area residents, and we're all getting the same story: not enough money in the fund, or we're not a priority.

I feel our county has an inadequate plan for paving county roads. What happened to the idea of paving all of them? I have had a mixed reaction when I have questioned the commissioners on road paving being part of a first-class county plan.

The commission wants our support to give them greater control of our property in the outlying county areas. When they do what they tell us they are going to do, then I'll consider giving them what they want. Until then, I'll cast my ballot otherwise.

MARY LIVINGSTON

Whitewater, Mo.