Citizens will have to dig deeper soon
By Chuck Doud
The Madera Tribune
One of the problems the County and City of Madera are facing is that they are beginning to wear out. This is nothing unique to our county and city — but we, the people, at some point in the not-too-distant future are going to have to pony up the money to do something about it.
Many county roads are in need of repair, and in some instances in need of replacement. Avenue 9, for example, is regularly resurfaced to fill in its numerous potholes, but the road itself is beginning to break off along the sides. As traffic on it increases, as it seems to do almost every month, the damage will only get worse. Long-term plans call for major improvement of that road, but it may not happen soon enough. Meanwhile, Band-Aid-style repairs never cost less — only more.
In town, Yosemite Avenue near the railroad tracks is full of potholes again, even though repairs were made only a few months ago. The whole street needs replacement, but that isn’t likely to happen for a long time.
The Madera City Council heard Wednesday night that it could cost as much as $200 million to replace all the city’s curbs and gutters over time. Replacement is long overdue in some areas where storm water isn’t carried away fast enough.
The city bit the bullet a couple of years ago when it decided to upgrade its sewage-treatment plant, but not until a gaggle of disgruntled citizens showed up to call the council members names because utility fees would have to be increased to pay for the improvement.
The county is going to have to do some bullet-biting as well, because many special districts have infrastructures on the verge of failing. Rates will have to be raised there, too.
But good infrastructure is never a bad investment.
The City is wasting money all around town. FIXING STREETS. For example Pecan and Stadium Rd. the city put in stop lights. Why! for two years they have been blinking red. We had a stop sing there befor, so why waste the money to put in the signal.
The road in front of Sierra Vista School was partley complete, and they still have the right hand side blocked of. Why hasnt that been finished what are they waiting for.
All of the center dividers they have put in all around town. Why. No one is taking care of all the plants that the city put in. They are being overtaken by weeds.
I have no intention of paying more then I have too, for them to make more mistakes with my moneys.