The Sidney herald., 1960-10-26
Letter 10 Editor
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excuses on developing the town
ship line road. These two ads
we're my political motivations. I
decided to inquire as to the exact
status of the road in question. |
called MIR. Burns ON the phone &
Two days later l got the letter
which was reproduced in our
local papers under the headline.
Township Line Road To Be Built
In Spring. This was news of
interest to the people of Richland
County.
In any political campaign one
states his side of the case and
leaves it to the opposition to state
their side of the case. So far in my
political campaigns l have told my
SIDE of the story as honestly as
l could.
In Senator Thiessens letter to
the editor he asks this question,
why is it that the people directly
involved as the County Commits
SionerS or Attorney Generals
office re barred from informa-
tlon and yet the Highway Com
mission Chairman issues it to one
involved only politically"
This is a bold and deliberate
miS-Statement of facts.
l talked with our Clerk and
Recorder, Elma Hooker, who is
secretary for tine Board of County
Commissioners. She stated that to
her knowledge the county COM
miSSionerS have never been de-
MED information by the highway
department.
On October Goth l called the
chairman of the Board of County
Commissioners, Mr.. Jim Spur
geon, on the phone and asked if
ne had ever been denied informa-
ton as to the status of the Town
snip Line road. His answer was
mat he had not been denied in
formation. He also stated that the
secondary roads engineer, MIR.
Walker Brown, had been in
Sidney in June and had told the
commissioners that this road
would be let to contract after
january l, 1861.
In other words, our County
commissioners, by their own ad-
mission, have not been barred
rom information. They have, in
TACT, been informed all the time
ON this road. Mr.. Spurgeon stated
during our phone conversation
That perhaps the commissioners
should have published informa-
ton in regard to the contract let
ting. Certainly if the commission
erS had done that, Mr.. Schepens
would have had no occasion to
promise action. It would then
rave been unnecessary for me
TO bring the information to the at
tentlon of the public.
On OcOber Goth 1 also called
Mr.. Walker Brown, secondary
roads engineer of the highway
department. He told me most en-
phatlcaly over the phone that he
mas never barred information
from anyone. l asked him if be-
tween the dates of September 10
and October 10 he had had inol1ir-
les from the Attorney Generals
oftlce as to the status of the
township Line road. Mr.. Brown
assured me that he had never had
an inquiry from the Attorney Cen
eral, TO say nothing of barring"
information from him.
After talking to Mr.. Brown and
Mr.. jim Spurgeon it is clearly
apparent that Senator ThieSsen's
investigation was a farce.
Perhaps l should conclude with
2 little history of the Township
line road and a little information
as to the handling of secondary
road funds. Each year every Co. in
Che state is allocated secondary
road money. These funds are not
very large and would permit the
oulldlng of perhaps only a mile
or Two OF road each year in each
county. To avoid small road con-
tracts the secondary road moneys
are Jumped together within finan-
can districts and each county
Within the district takes turns on
secondary road construction. Rec
ords are kept so that each county
knows at all times the exact
amount of secondary roonar, ~ a.
credit.
During January of 1859. while
aptendang the legislative session.
! asked Mr.. Brown about the stat
US or the Township Line road.
SAID 1t was programmed for