Although I have questioned Supervisor Novelli’s silence regarding certain issues of general concern, as well as his positions on this and other campaign issues, I have never attacked him for his personal motives. However, Lynn Morgan as Chair of the UCC, has stated officially in writing with an overly divisive and unnecessarily confrontational tone that: “we encourage you to question the motives of the Amador County Business Council and Supervisor Plasse.” The Pine Grove Community's input in shaping this project has been helpful, and the UCC may have valid concerns, but this "Alert'" is a personal and highly offensive attack, questioning the Business Council and Supervisor Plasse's "motives."
In my opinion, it is misleading for Ms. Morgan to generalize that “we have arrived at a plan alternative that is practical and affordable.” This overly comprehensive project plan is far from being practical or affordable! I also believe that it is premature to say that “the only way for ACTC to change this project as a priority would be to revise the entire County Regional Transportation Plan.” Furthermore, saying that the “ACTC staff has been directed to pursue other grants available for transportation projects in this county,” does not negate the very valid concern that this project may deplete primary transportation funding and make it difficult to address any other necessary transportation safety work for the entire county for next ten years or more. Most importantly, this "Alert" is over-reaching by implying that District 3 residents support this latest version of the Pine Grove project in its entirety. Only the 6,000 residents living upcountry know what it is that they support.
Lynn Morgan's unelected use of the UCC as a platform to presume to speak for others, and asking us to "question the motives and business interests" of members of a Business Council and a County Supervisor, is unfortunate and inappropriate. We can all benefit from listening as well as voicing diverging viewpoints, without having to contend that the only motives or positions that are valid are our own. The following "Alert" from candidate Lynn Morgan is another example and reminder of why I will be asking for your vote in June.
Mike Spence
______________________________________________________________________________
Upcountry Citizens Alert!
From: Lynn
Morgan
November 22, 2013
It has recently come to our attention that the Amador County
Business Council has sent a letter to the Amador Transportation
Commission(ACTC) suggesting that they defund the Pine Grove/Highway 88 Corridor
Improvement Project. In addition, at our last UCC meeting on November
12th, Supervisor Plasse mentioned his meeting with the Business Council that
day and his desire to put the funding of this project back to a revote of the
ACTC.
The facts about this Project are as follows:
*Supervisor Plasse has been public about his disagreement
with this Project, which he refers to as the "Pine Grove Beautification
Project" for several years.
*One of the PRIMARY purposes for this project was to design
improved safety elements for our children who attend Pine Grove Elementary School, NOT as a
beautification project. This school is also used as the junior and senior
high schools transfer station for upcountry students. As such, the
Project is designed to reduce ingress and egress to and from the school to
increase safety for the children and their parents, as well as to improve
driving conditions for all who travel on HW88.
*This Project has been the highest priority of the County
Regional Transportation Plan since the Plans two updates in 1997 and, the
latest, in 2004. Hundreds of personal hours of county citizens and
specific stakeholder groups time have been spent in reviewing and evaluating
alternative designs for this Project for many of the last ten years. We
have arrived at a plan alternative that is practical and affordable. It
is safe to say that our citizens are invested in the successful completion of
this Project.
*There are other grants available for transportation
projects in this county, which ACTC staff have been directed to pursue.
Therefore, going through with completion of this project will NOT
necessarily prevent other transportation improvements to the county.
*The only way for ACTC to change this project as a priority
would be to revise the entire County Regional Transportation Plan, a process
which is very lengthy and publically vetted. Also, if the ACTC does NOT
go forward requesting funds for this Project by December 15, 2013, they will
lose their ability to access these STIP funds for ANYTHING for five years.
*The ACTC has already spent $1.8million and untold staff and
consultant hours on this project and they are UNDER budget and AHEAD of
schedule to complete it.
*The ACTC voted at its meeting on October 24th to move
forward to finalize project plans, specifications, estimates and right of way
processes.
We need your support to either attend the ACTC meeting
next Wednesday, November 27, 2013, or to write a letter to ACTC asking them to
continue this Project. We must put the protection and safety of our
upcountry children and citizens ahead of certain business interests. The link
for the meeting agenda is www.actc-amador.org/documents/ACTCPACKET_11-27-13
.
Not surprisingly, neither I, nor Gary Reinoehl who has
served as UCC's transportation representative with these projects, are
available to attend this meeting due to the holiday. Thankfully, Sherry
Curtis, UCC Chair as of January 2014, will attend.
In closing, we encourage you to question the motives of the
Business Council and Supervisor Plasse, particularly after the large citizen
involvement and support of this Project.
Our best to you and yours for a happy and safe Thanksgiving
holiday.
Lynn Morgan
2013 UCC Chair
295-8626
Pine Grove Hwy Project
Previously posted article on ACN about Pine Grove Hwy.
Project, by Mike Spence
I'm commenting on these posts to provide facts because I have taken time to research them and have been involved in local transportation planning. It is true that to change the priority of the PG Project requires a change to the Regional Transportation Plan. Pine Grove is currently the top priority plan in the 2004 RTP and the draft 2014 RTP. Simple fact.
ReplyDeleteI don't believe Mr. Spence is interested in facts. I also don't believe there's anything wrong, divisive, or "highly offensive" (grow some you-know-whats) about questioning the motives behind a questionable action (unless, of course, you don't want people to know those motives).
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