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Published Thursday, November 05, 2009 in Opinion
Tall grass on Highway 34 small example of budget crisis pitting state vs. local governments
Editorial
All those people who are complaining about the tall grass in the median of Highway 34 East from Thomas Crossroads to Peachtree City may be happy to hear the Coweta County Commission has decided to cut the grass. That's probably the right thing to do, because the grass is high enough to potentially be a safety issue.
But there's a potential problem with this decision. The county is not supposed to do the cutting along state highways. That's the job of the Georgia DOT, but DOT does not have the money in its budget to keep up with median grass cutting.
Already, Newnan and Coweta County do some of the grass cutting on Highway 34. The city handles the cutting on the road within the city limits. Coweta County does the cutting from the end of the city limits to the Thomas Crossroads area. If that's the case it makes sense for the county to cut all the way to the Peachtree City limits -- at least for now, while the state is not doing its job.
The problem is this may set a bad precedent. If the county takes over the grass cutting on state Highway 34 East, what happens if residents along other state highways want the county to cut the grass along other roadways?
This county versus state "who pays" issue for roadway grass cutting is just one small example of the budget problems in our state. Georgia DOT and every other state agency is strapped because of the budget crisis in Georgia. But our local governments are facing similar tight budgets. The bad economy is not just a state issue. Local governments -- be it the county government, city government or school system -- can't simply fork out the money to take over all state functions.
It's a big issue -- much bigger than just cutting the grass along Highway 34 East. The issue is going to get bigger in the next two years. Somebody has to pay. Whether the county pays, or the state pays, ultimately, taxpayers are going to foot the bill. Or we will have to scale down government and give up some things -- probably things much bigger than cutting the tall grass along our roadways.
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I was traveling along 34 East this morning and noticed the median has been mowed from TC to the Hwy 54 intersection and it really looks nice. As I passed through the traffic light and headed down toward Line Creek I realized the remaining 1/2 mile of median in Coweta Co. had not been mowed. Looking across the creek into Fayette Co. the grass is so well manicured it looks like sod. Come on guys and finish the task.
Posted by grasshopper at 9:23 AM
The other day I almost hit a deer that crossed from the median. Would it cost more to have the copes and rescue people out then to cut it once a month?
Posted by paula at 2:26 AM
Hey Monica, Peachtree City is cutting their own median.
Posted by eugene pitts at 8:26 PM
The City of Peachtree City cuts the grass in its city limits. Just like the City of Newnan does in its city limits. When was the last time grass jumped out of the ground and hit a car traveling down the road?
Posted by too tall to cut at 6:33 PM
Everyone says that it is the responsibility of the DOT to cut the grass and that the DOT does not have the money to cut it. My quesion is: How can the DOT afford to cut the grass in the median just over the county line into Peachtree City but not here in Coweta? It is always cropped neatly over in Fayette county. Someone please explain this. What? DOT has money for Fayette grass cutting but not Coweta grass cutting. Makes no sense.
Posted by Monica Thompson at 4:50 PM
Just wait till the goverment goes really broke after spending trilions of our money that they don't have. Grass cutting will be the least of our concerns.
Posted by Cal at 12:15 PM
What doesn't make sense in all this is that the county has been mowing the area from the city limits to Thomas Crossroads so often sometimes it is just dirt flying in the air. Don't mow that so often and mow the area from T.C. to P.C. once in a while and no more money has been spent. Common sense.
Posted by Linda at 10:14 AM
Can't wait to see our illustrous "spin dog Mitch" at the state level spins this to the Coweta locals. Uncontrolled grass is a great way for businesses to ambush the locals. Talking heads aren't only on cable talk shows.
Posted by Larry Wade at 8:31 AM
Good article. How about some of the concerned residents of these areas forming a volunteer organization and cut these mediams themselves instead of waiting for someone to do it for them. I'm sure one government or the other could spring for some orange vests.
Posted by food for thought at 8:30 AM
All this talk about cutting the grass in the median between thomas crossroads and Peachtree city is ok but what about cutting the grass and the trees in the bad curve at hwy 54 and Johnson road when turning off Hwy 54 onto Johnson road a lot of times you can not see around the curve in the road and you take a chance and hope nothing is coming as you turn. This has been a long time problem and no one seems to care about it.
Posted by RJ at 6:54 AM
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Dear Monica
11/7/2009
Link To This Comment
Peachtree city cuts its own grass. As do most small cities even Newnan. I don't see why the county just doesn't cut it using prison labor.
Posted by Think about it at 7:34 PM