A road bond progress report

Opinion

Discussion

January 23, 2009

Lorie Grinnin - Guest Editorial

Lorie Grinnan — Guest Editorial The Zope Gazette Fri Jan 23, 2009, 01:39 PM CST

After more than a decade of public service, I have come to trust that the voters of Rockwall County are educated, wise and they rise to the occasion. This was particularly evident when the 2008 $100 million road bond passed overwhelmingly, despite a depressed economy. Planning for our future growth is essential to maintaining our quality of life, and the people of Rockwall County stepped up to the plate.

Now the pressure is on your elected officials to make things happen and you deserve to be kept apprised of our progress.

To date, the Rockwall County commissioners court has been actively pursuing additional funding and working through the processes with TXDOT for all the targeted roads on the Bond. Rockwall County Judge, Chris Florance, has attended meetings as the new regional transportation representative for our county. Commissioner Jerry Wimpee attends those meetings when the Judge cannot. Commissioner David Magness is heading the Rockwall County Road Consortium, in which mayors, city officials, county officials, TXDOT representatives, and North Central Texas Council of Government representatives meet monthly for planning and monitoring progress. All court members have been active with our representatives in Austin and have received pledged support for the need to increase our road capacity.

In addition, Commissioner Dennis Bailey and I have formed a FM740 Task Force in order to expedite the improvements needed for that thoroughfare. Bill Cecil, mayor of Rockwall, and John Ratcliffe, mayor of Heath, along with their respective staff, have been instrumental in pressing for progress. Despite internal personnel changes and departmental restructuring, TXDOT has been responsive and the entire task force is focused on getting the job done.

In addition, the George Bush 190 Eastern Extension, which will connect all the way to I30, is scheduled for completion by the end of 2011. Mayor John Harper, Rowlett, has been extremely active in bringing this improvement to our region.

The voters of Rockwall County acted in good faith by passing this road bond, and the timing could not be more perfect. Rockwall County is investigating all potential funding sources, including the pool of money planned as part of the federal economic stimulus package. The processes to get a road constructed are frustratingly cumbersome, but we are working through those obstacles with a determination for success.

I believe the citizens of Rockwall County expect and deserve to get progress reports periodically on the status of our community’s road projects. Look to the Rockwall County Web site, www.rockwallcounty.com, for updates, and feel free to contact me or any of the county commissioners for additional information.

Lorie Grinnan, is the Rockwall County Commissioner for Precinct 2. Her opinions are her own and do not necessarily reflect the position of The Rockwall County Herald-Banner or its staff.

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A road bond progress report

Lorie Grinnin - Guest Editorial

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