Elissa Yount: Hendersonians worry about DOT plans
We, the people, came out to have our say at the public information session held about the Traffic Separation Study in the Henderson City Council chambers on Tuesday afternoon.
It was encouraging to see the citizens exchange ideas and concerns with the “suits” that are proposing closing railroad crossings throughout Henderson.
A lot of us, including myself, thought that this was being done in conjunction with the High Speed Rail, but Mark Freeman, PE, told me that they would make their proposals and the High Speed Rail Commission could change or ignore them. I saw this as a preemptive strike to get the first dirty work of closing crossings out of the way, and thus pave a smoother road for the High Speed Rail effort to stream through.
And if they were looking for public outreach, they got it.
The proposal to close the crossing at St. Matthews Street met with fierce opposition from a group of ladies, my age and older, who were all feisty with their opinions. The DOT has already closed the south end of St. Matthews Street, so everyone now has to go all the way down to Nicholas Street to get out of their neighborhood.
It is understandable that the residents that are left on St. Matthews see themselves being trapped in again by closing the crossing at the north end of the street. But, more than the closing of the road, they were concerned about the neglect of the blight on their street.
For years I have brought to light the deplorable conditions on St. Matthews Street. The burned out houses far outnumber the habitable houses. I even wondered if the street was closed so that the eyesores would be more difficult to see. Let’s hope that their voices will be heard and codes will be enforced to make their lives more peaceful. Councilwoman-Elect Coffey was there and was listening intently to their concerns.
At the other end of town, the residents in North Henderson vehemently opposed closing Harris Street. Why? Because they will all have to come down to a very blighted and dangerous area around Lamb and Main Streets to cross the railroad. They just don’t feel safe doing that, and neither would you. If, on the other hand, everyone had to see the decay on these streets, then something might be done about it.
Then, in the middle of all this, I was quizzing the powers-that-be about the improvement to Chavasse Avenue that runs from Raleigh Road to William Street. The DOT officials have the plans drawn, the city bought the right-of-way, the power company has moved the lines, and Rep. Jimmy Crawford secured the money, and yet the work has not progressed. Widening this street and putting in a sidewalk for pedestrians is not a priority of DOT. As mothers walk in the ditches pushing strollers and carrying groceries, transfer trucks, buses, and over 8,000 cars at last count use this crossing every day.
The city has dropped the ball on this project by not buying enough right-of-way, and then by failing to put its political muscle behind the project. With all the money the city has already invested, you would think they would be pushing for this much-needed “missing link.” You will have to excuse me if I see a total lack of credibility in what the folks at City Hall and DOT say about this project. If the right person had been pushing this project, it would have been done long ago.
So, what is going to come from this meeting? We come to the Implementation Process for the Traffic Separation Study for Henderson. According to their literature, “This phase will initiate after the Study Phase is complete. NCDOT officials will identify (sic) funding for the stated enhancements, prepare public agreements with the City of Greenville, project design and property attainment, coordinate crossing closures with appropriate officials, and oversee project implementation.”
I know that the phrase “prepare public agreements with the City of Greenville” must be a typo, but it is funny that they are going to coordinate all of this in Henderson with Greenville. Maybe we can get the good folks in Greenville to speak up for us. Let’s hope our Department of Transportation pays a little more attention to what the people in Henderson want and need.
We will stay tuned.
Again, Mrs. Yount, you have hit the proverbial nail on the head. Closing access to blighted areas of town won’t stop it from spreading. If anything, it will further encourage it. I say, up in arms feisty ladies!
Comment by Ironwood — November 18, 2009 @ 6:03 am
The city has been promising to contact the state for close to three (3) years now on the Chavasse Avenue Project and the city refuses to give an answer on the state response. I personally contacted Mr. Frank Frazier (city engineer) and he said he would check it out and get back with me. This was over one year ago and still no response.
For a city government that prides itself on being truthful and transparent, it is missing the mark by a mile.
It’s a lot like ex-mayor Young saying joint funding is fair and logical, when in fact it’s anything but fair but it is certainly illogical.
Comment by Bobby Gupton — November 18, 2009 @ 7:26 am
Still again, Thank You Mrs. Yount for devoting your intellect, time and experience to the continuing task of “motivating” our government officials. I remain thankful that you are dedicated to making our City a better place to live and improve our quality of life.
Since filing and then running for the Ward Two Seat on the Henderson City Council, I better understand the inner workings of our city government. Suprisingly, it appears “we the people” have very little input or impact on the decisions made by the “commissions”.
Why is this? Could voter apathy be a contributing factor?
Examine the numbers! 50% of the eligible citizens register to vote, 50% of the registered voters vote in major elections and less than that in local elections. Our government officials, and the “significant few” that direct them, realize that very little or any opposition to their plan will be encountered because the “numbers” predict it. Patiently, they move forward with private agendas.
Fortunately for us, “the insignificant many”, Mrs. Yount is upsetting this trend. One of the benefits of HiH is that many citizens can now watch and follow as she brings the real issues to light. Hopefully, we will join her at future meetings until the decisions made will reflect the true “will of ALL the people”.
Remember, we deserve what we are willing to accept.
Comment by Lewis H. Edwards — November 18, 2009 @ 8:09 am
I was at the meeting last night at City Hall and was glad to see the response of so many of our elderly citizens. These are the people that are the backbone of this town and we as elected officials should put their concerns and needs in the foremost part of any plans. The concerns that have arisen over the proposed closing of St. Matthews crossing are indeed valid concerns. Most of the citizens in that area that will be affected are elderly, and have been in this town for most of their life. I am certainly for progress as I hope that most of us are, but we have to find ways to have progress without destroying the families that have been the ones that have stayed in Henderson and supported our town all of their lives. I am confident that the studies can produce another way to handle this area other than forcing it to become an island, cut off from the rest of this city. I hope that, if nothing else gets accomplished, the area can be cleaned up to afford these residents some peace of mind and assurance that they will not be “outcast” by the division of progress.
Comment by Sara M. Coffey — November 18, 2009 @ 4:02 pm
I did not see any elected officials at the meeting but I left at 6:30. Thank you Ms. Coffey for your concern and I know you will keep your eye on the ball and not let these people down. I bet most of the council members don’t even know what a separation study is.
Comment by A Toast to Coffey — November 18, 2009 @ 5:54 pm
a BIG Thank-you Ms. Yount for your continued commitment to the people of Henderson, which effects all of Vance County and surrounding areas.
I wonder why Bernard Alston doesn’t just man up and resign, so Sara can go ahead and be seated?
He isn’t showing up for meetings, is he?
why should he continue to be paid as an absentee council person?
Comment by ziggy — November 18, 2009 @ 11:27 pm
most of the current council people don’t have a clue, ziggy. kinda reminds me of high school, the way people just vote for the most popular or some kind of misguided friend loyalty. anyone who puts a dunderhead in a position of authority does NOT care about the good of all.
Comment by mighty me — November 22, 2009 @ 7:53 am
The paper finally had this story. Can you believe Inscoe saying just come to the meeting if the citizens have a concern. What good does it do? They vote like a pack of zombies. Why can’t he get that council to ride around and look at the messes. That council listens to no one but those with money. i bet he knows all about how to get millions for his property downtown while these other parts of Henderson rot and he has a house on Main St. in North Henderson. He should be ashamed to even speak to those people. He is one big phony who is just out for himself. This should go before an ethics committee. He is conflicted with his job at Kerr Tar, as a council member, as a zoning board member, and as a slumlord. If he could get all those knots untied he would just be a limp piece of string for someone to pull.
Comment by Late Breaking News — November 22, 2009 @ 9:02 am
ziggy–because he can, and has.
Comment by north star — November 22, 2009 @ 3:46 pm
mighty me..you’re pretty much correct.
preachers have a built in voter base that can’t distinguish between the preaching and service to the church and members, and service to the whole city. They listen to what the preachers are telling them.
and we lost Lynne Harper and Elissa Yount because of it.
(IMO)
I also liked Jeanne..(last name escapes me at the moment)..she seemed to be very concerned about how money was being spent and spoke out about it..
I heard her on Town Talk several times when Tom Hannan was hosting.
I was sorry she lost her re-election.
does anyone know anything about that?
Comment by ziggy — November 22, 2009 @ 9:38 pm
ziggy, please actually meet Jeanne Hight one day, that woman has no sense whatsoever. Actually, she’s kind of scary.
Comment by Follow the White Lines on the Road — November 22, 2009 @ 10:29 pm
is that true? can you elaborate?
I’ve never met her..just heard her on TT way back.
I think she posts here occasionally..at least someone using her name does.
Comment by ziggy — November 22, 2009 @ 11:07 pm
you would have just needed to have watched her when she was on the city council. she would be out of control at times and I know Seifert used to have to devote time to bringing her back down to earth and cleaning up some things she said to help the city save face a bit. I can honestly say that I’ve heard people talk about missing many of the other elected officials in town, from Chic Young to Elissa Yount, but I haven’t once heard anyone speak of missing Hight.
Comment by Follow the White Lines on the Road — November 23, 2009 @ 11:45 am