Discrimination or incompetent staff?

During this time last year there was a major problem on the lower end of Edna Moore Road with drainage issues. I personally called the commissioner’s office and the road department on at least eight occasions and personally visited our county manager and chairman of the commission in reference to the issues in my neighborhood. Finally, after several months of my calling and going to the commissioner’s office, the work began to fix the drainage problems on our road. During this time, the road department workers knocked down the speed limit signs and the slow children at play signs on our road. I spoke to one of the workers on that day and he said they would be back at the end of the week and put the signs back up properly. Well, that was a year ago!

Needless to say, the signs have not been put back up. Again, I started to same process of reporting this. I have called on at least 10 occasions and personally visited our county commission office and nothing has been done yet. Again, we have the same drainage problems on our road, no speed limit signs and no slow children at play signs, which is making our road a speed zone and dangerous area for our children. Additionally, we also have severe road problems on Winter Lane, which is a road that connects to Edna Moore Road. Of course, I have also called about this as well and nothing has been done.

I do not understand how the county can treat their wonderful residents this way. We are taxpayers. We care about our neighborhood and community. We want action now! I am tired of such unfair treatment in our neighborhood. If you go just a few streets over in the more affluent area, they do not have this problem. There are speed limit signs, no drainage issues, the grass on the side of the road has been cut and is kept cut and the sheriff’s deputies patrol that area. Well, I ask myself the question, “Why is our neighborhood being treated differently and not receiving the same services?”

I personally believe the reason is quite obvious and I do not have to spell it out for you but I will. D-I-S-C-R-I-M-I-N-A-T-I-O-N! Encarta Dictionary defines discrimination as unfair treatment of one person or group, usually because of prejudice about race, ethnicity, age, religion or gender. Our neighborhood and residents are not being treated fairly and equal to other residents in Dodge County. Is it discrimination? Is it an attitude of “I don’t care?” Is it incompetent staff? What is the problem? I should not have to call eight or ten times to report a problem in our area. It should not take a year for the issue to be resolved.

I hope that the county manager, the commissioner’s office and the road department reads my opinion and knows that I am upset, disturbed and saddened by the way our neighborhood is being treated. Now, let’s watch and see how long it takes to solve the problems in our neighborhood after this letter hits the paper!

Alicia Jackson-Fluellen