Raves, Rants & Roses

RESPONSE: In the July 29 article, "Tax Rates Won't Rise, Commissioners Say" Smith County Commissioner JoAnn Hampton commented road lists were a source of contention for her constituency. "Through the years, we've always had this road list," she said. "And it never went anywhere. So no more road list."

Not True.

When Road & Bridge requests $2.5 million for asphalt and materials, the auditor wants a list of roads showing where and how much will be used on each. Not supplying one is out of the question with that much public money. If Commissioner Hampton has circumvented this process somehow, it may be time for an outside audit.

Do you need a road list? Absolutely. You need every tool you can devise to demand transparency out of commissioners who vote themselves raises despite repeated warnings from other officials and waves of public disgust. You need to know that donated road material isn't ending up on some constituent's private road at your expense a week before the primary, and that every stop sign is being installed according to the Uniform Manual of Traffic Control Devices. Honesty doesn't happen because it should; it has to be demanded and verified.

Despite the commissioner's efforts to redirect road work to benefit her campaigns, Smith County Road & Bridge managed to rebuild as much of the worst county roads as we could since 2005, "without regard to individual commissioners precincts" as the transportation code says.

The idea we should lie to the public about when a particular county road can be resurfaced is one she has voiced in court proceedings before. Smith County's road system was a product of political neglect prior to the Road Recovery Plan.

The level of frustration for Road & Bridge employees was so high, it was a wonder many stayed. Only strong civic responsibility from the rank and file kept things going.

Any road list submitted with the budget request is public information and can be obtained with an Open Records Request. Those interested should do so.

Bill Bala, PE
Former Smith County Engineer