Last Chance To Oppose Buses Before Douglas County Votes

DOUGLAS COUNTY, GA — The Douglas County Peoples' Action Committee is urging residents to come out July 23 and 24 to oppose the Board of Commissioners' vote on the new four-bus system.

"DCPAC has requested that citizens who are concerned about the proposed bus system of Douglas County attend the next couple of BOC meetings to address their concerns to the commissioners," said Heather Denis, DCPAC, chairperson. "On July 23 at 10 a.m., there is a work session for the BOC where public comment is available at the start of the meeting. On July 24, at 6 p.m., the BOC will hold their meeting where they will vote to accept the grant from Atlanta Regional Commission.

"Public comment is also available at the start of this meeting, as well," she said. "It is our understanding that two of the commissioners are leaning to decline the grant, two are for the grant, and one is on the fence."

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Commissioner Henry Mitchell has expressed his concerns over the process of how the bus system went from a two-route intra-county system to a four-route system extending outside of the county limits, but hasn't stated which direction his vote may go.

"We hope that citizens will show up in large numbers the way they did at Chairwoman Jones' Walk the Talk meeting back in January," said Denis. "The citizens have not been given the opportunity to have an opinion about the buses either through a vote at the onset of the project or through a BOC vote when the routes changed. It's time for citizens to use their platform at these meetings to let their voices be heard.

"Show up and wear red to show you support a no buses vote," reads an email the group put out to the public. "Contact Commissioner Mitchell to let him know you are opposed to the acceptance of this grant.

Mail: 8700 Hospital Drive, Douglasville, GA 30134 Email: hmitchell@co.douglas.ga.us Phone: 770-920-7266

On July 9, at the BOC work session, DCPAC Attorney Meeker presented the board with a letter representing the residents who are concerned with the way the proposed bus system has transpired and circumstances around the CMAQ grant applications.

The July 24 meeting is at 6 p.m. in Citizen's Hall at the Douglas County Courthouse. The BOC work session is at 10 a.m. at the courthouse, July 23.

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Photo by Patch Editor John Barker