Vote FOR Our Roads Now Feb. 8
Early voting to begin on Feb. 1
Residents concerned about deteriorating Garland County roads announced the creation of a committee to support the continuation of the 0.625 percent sales tax during the special election on February 8th.
“Many of us wonder, ‘When will these roads ever get fixed?’ or ‘Why does the pavement keep deteriorating and potholes keep returning?’” said Chris Polychron, co-chairman of the Committee For Our Roads Committee before about 30 supporters at a press conference held at the Greater Hot Springs Chamber of Commerce.
The For Our Roads Now Committee is made up of people from throughout Garland County, Hot Springs and Hot Springs Village who believe a major investment is needed to improve the condition of roads, streets and bridges throughout Garland County. If continuation of the sales tax for five years is approved during a February 8th special election, about $70 million will be generated to improve roads.
“For too many years we have kicked the can down the road,” said Garland County Judge Darryl Mahoney. “This is something Garland County needs.”
“We have been rebuilding roads that are not salvageable,” said Hot Springs City Manager Bill Burrough. “This is the number one issue in our city. We want to make a significant impact on the improving the quality of life for our residents.”
“It will take Garland County 70 years to repave all of the county roads and City of Hot Springs will take 35 years,” said Polychron. “We have a solution, rather than wait, we need to invest in our communities to fix our roads now. We can do it together by voting on February 8th for the continued investment in our roads in Garland County.”
“The committee is appropriately named because these are OUR ROADS and they need to be fixed NOW,” said Polychron.
“During the past five years we have seen tremendous improvements in the state highways entering Hot Springs Village. The expressway extension should be completed next year,” said Larry Griffin, a Hot Springs Village member of the For Our Roads Now Committee and a former member of the Garland County Quorum Court.
Griffin said the dangerous one-lane bridge at the Glazypeau gate will be widened, as well as the roadway leading up to it. He also said that East Glazypeau Road will be improved, as well as, Danville Road. There are other roads in the Hot Springs Village area that are scheduled for improvements.
Polychron said that there are almost 8 million visits to Garland County and Hot Springs every year. And they spend almost $700 million in the county and will share the costs of constructing local roads.
“We believe the sales tax is fair. Because the millions of tourists who come to our area – and drive on our roads – will pay their fair share of the investments in our communities,” Polychron said.
The 0.625 percent sales is now being paid in Garland County for repairs of road, streets and bridges and to partially pay, with the Arkansas Department of Transportation, for the extension of the Martin Luther King Jr. Expressway. The tax is set to expire in 2022 and must be continued for future county roads and city streets.
Polychron said Mahoney and Burrough have developed plans to attack almost 100 deteriorating roads, streets and bridges. The plans will reduce the costs of road maintenance and they can immediately begin improving primary arterial and connector roads.
“Judge Mahoney and City Manager Burrough want to begin using our resources wisely and instead of just throwing an asphalt patch on the problem, they can begin to make true investments in our roads,” Polychron said.
The revenue created from the sales tax will be divided based upon the populations of Garland County, Hot Springs, Lonsdale, Fountain Lake and Mountain Pine for road construction projects.
Polychron said the for Our Roads Now Committee has developed a public information campaign to make people aware of the need for improved roads. The campaign will explain the how of the continuation of the 0.625 percent sales tax will benefit everyone.
The committee which has already developed a website, www.OurRoadsNow.com, will conduct public forums in several locations and address community organizations about support of the initiative in the upcoming February 8th Special Election.
The Garland County Quorum Court on November 22nd unanimously voted to hold the Special Election on February 8th. Early voting begins February 1st and will continue until February 4th. Early voting will resume on February 7th.
The current .625 percent sales tax was approved by residents in 2016 for road and bridge improvements, including paying a portion of the construction of the extension of the Martin Luther King Jr. Expressway. The current tax will expire in 2022.