Commuter Rail – Hopefully the last word

If Norfolk Southern wants to operate the commuter rail, allow private enterprise and the free market dictate its funding. As for me, Dana Lemon has no credibility and I want her hands – and Scott’s and Bell’s hands – out of my pocket! After reading about the funding schemes proposed by Scott, Bell and Lemon it was clear the rail system would be a nice luxury but of no tangible purpose to 99% of Henry county.

Now the AJC reports a fiscal shortfall puts the rail line in jeopardy. Norfolk Southern told the state it would need $8 million in additional track upgrades, and will not enter into a lease agreement with the state until the funding issue is resolved. Officials with the state Department of Transportation, which is overseeing the project, say they can't bridge the multimillion-dollar gap, leaving the entire effort in limbo. DOT spokesman David Spear has made it very clear that there's not any money, nor much desire, to spend additional taxpayer money on it.

Go back a few months and remember the warnings we heard from both Henry commissioner BJ Mathis and State Rep. Steve Davis. The numbers never did add up and Rep. Davis even had to force the Georgia DOT to produce documentation on the project. The City of Hampton remains clear in their refusal to sign a long term agreement to fund operational expenses.

The so-called leadership in Clayton included commission chairman Eldrin Bell, U.S. Rep. David Scott, and Scott’s appointee to the DOT Board Dana Lemon. Detractors in Clayton included commissioner Wole Ralph, State Senator Seay and thousands of residents. But the Big Three would not listen and continued begging for another government subsidy for Norfolk Southern Railway and greedy developers along the rail’s path. Bell even signed a 50-year agreement that Clayton would cover millions in unknown costs. They were obviously blinded by forces and influences we never read about in the newspaper!

Henry County can be proud of the diligent work and great representation we have received from BJ Mathis and Steve Davis. Both were told by “community leaders” they should get on board or face political reprisals. Instead, they chose honor and integrity – and fulfilled their promise to represent all of Henry County. Although some special interests may lose out on development along the rail line, Mathis and Davis’s work in defense of Henry’s taxpayers has been vindicated. We cannot say “thank you” loudly enough.

Larry Stanley
McDonough, GA
December 23, 2005