The Times West Virginian

Opinion

November 1, 2009

Condition of roads hot topic

By Misty Poe

FAIRMONT — In polite society, you should limit your conversations to the weather and condition of the roads. You must refrain from speaking of politics and religion, so as not to offend those you speak to.

Of course, the condition of the roads these days, especially in the City of Fairmont, has become quite a hot topic. In fact, it may end up being on the May 2010 primary election ballot.

Fairmont City Council will discuss the issue further when it meets Nov. 10.

Under the proposal, a property owner whose property is assessed at $100,000 could pay an additional $75 a year. Homeowners who qualify under the Homestead Act — senior citizens and disabled people — could pay $50 more in taxes on a home assessed at $100,000. Commercial property owners would pay $150 more in taxes for property assessed at $100,000.

It would generate more than $4.7 million if it passes by a super majority, which is at least 60 percent of the vote.

Similar levies, however, failed twice at the polls, both times by slim margins. The first time, the measure included money for parks, streets and demolition of dilapidated properties. The second time focused solely on funding a paving program, much like this levy.

But the city failed to get the super majority needed for levies like this at the polls. This time, the gamble will cost the city $18,000 to take it to the voters during the primary.

Some say its just not the right time for this measure. They predict that a poor economy, piled on top of the fact that Fairmont has raised water rates 363 percent in the past eight years, will mean the voters won’t get behind this levy.

Some say they’d be willing to pay any price to repair the roads of the city. For real, have you driven down Fourth Street recently? It’s like a ride at an amusement park.

One city resident sent me a few pictures this week. He said a large patch job performed by city crews recently has crumbled into gravel, which is sure to be swept up by the street sweepers. Oh, and he said he’d paid extra for that, too, now that there’s a fee to pay for disposal. He said he wouldn’t be voting to pay more for roadwork.

That’s one. But we collected a couple hundred extra votes to see where others stood on the issue. This week, we put the levy on our “ballot,” our weekly poll question, which can be found at www.timeswv.com. Last week, we asked our readers, “Do you think you would support a levy that would provide funds to pave streets in the City of Fairmont?”

For about 7.45 percent of readers, this is something they’d consider if the price was right. For a $100,000 house, $75 extra per year amounts to only 21 cents per day, half the cost of a postage stamp. Heck, we can’t think of anything you could buy in a store for 21 cents. That’s the kind of pocket change that ends up at the bottom of the dryer or in a car’s ashtray.

Coming in at 19.25 percent of the vote are the readers who support this measure. They say “Yes! It beats paying for new tires and alignments constantly.” Haven’t priced it lately, but it seems like $75 for tire “insurance” isn’t too bad.

But the winner here, with 73.29 percent of the vote, are those who at this time don’t seem too likely to press “yes” on the voting machine if the levy were on the ballot. Those voters said “Are you kidding? I’m already making monthly installments on the water system.”

Well, there’s time yet, but it seems like a tough task to convince more than 60 percent of the people of something.

So, a super majority was reached in our little poll ... just for the wrong side for those who want money for roads.

This week, let’s go back to the discussions we’ve had over the past year about the economy. What do you think is finally going to bring us back to where we were a year ago?

Log on. Vote. E-mail me.

Misty Poe

Managing Editor

mpoe@timeswv.com

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