Thursday, October 11, 2007

City Council Seeks to Condemn Land

As a follow-up to last week's article "It's Too Late Now...", I refer you to Jenn Wiant's article in the Northwest Herald last Friday, Oct. 5, which explains that the Woodstock City Council is seeking to condemn land of four property owners.

So it's not just that the City wants to make some road improvements. It was apparently unsuccessful in negotiating with property owners, so now it is asking for IDOT's muscle to condemn these properties.

Is this what Woodstock residents are willing to tolerate from our City Council - our seven elected representatives, whom we elected to look out for our best interests?

What is so necessary that Woodstock wants to condemn land and take it away from property owners? Does one block of South Street, east from Route 47, need widening? Well, does it? Really? There is hardly any traffic, and what there is can wait. We don't need to blow $2.2 Million on that.

Is there too much traffic? You bet. Can we do something about it? You bet. Let's hear what the changes are that are wanted with the traffic lights. That's IDOT's job and expense. What does Woodstock have to do with it?

I'm in South Carolina this week, but I'll be gathering information upon returning to Woodstock. Stay tuned.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Where does IDOT's money come from? Probably the same place as the "flood" relief money. There ain't no such thing as a free lunch.

Anonymous said...

I wanna know why in just 4 years property taxes have DOUBLED. Is it so they can do stupid projects like this and the overpriced lighting project on the square? When a government can take your land by saying it is unfit to livin in or on there is a problem. Those of us who are or have been in the service have sworn an oath to protect the CONSTITUTION as well as the NATION from invaders both foreign and domestic. It is starting to look like we have a dictatorship on our hands with Sager and crew. How can the city justify this and other expenditures when there are so many people living in poverty in this area? Why do we have all these vacant properties all about town? 47 is the states problem, let them widen it to 4 lanes where it cuts down to 2 lanes. A northen bypass route would also be nice connecting 47 and 14. I see a LOT of trucks cutting through down Dane to 120 so they can avoid the congestion on 47. Why not ask the council next session Gus why the state is not doing anything with 47? As far as where the funds come from for state repairs, ask Jack Franks.

Anonymous said...

The city should just have a window to walk up and get a handout from instead of wasting money on other things.

Anonymous said...

hehe, ask the state that can't even get a budget passed on time....don't like it, move