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Residents raise railroad crossing, sidewalks and digital-access concerns during Gadsden County public comment
Summary
Public commenters urged the county to repair a hazardous railroad crossing, improve sidewalks and road maintenance and to expand online public access to documents. A community group speaker also voiced solidarity with national protests and concern about increased law-enforcement funding.
At the start of the budget workshop, members of the public used the meeting’s public-comment period to raise local infrastructure and access issues, including a hazardous railroad crossing on Mike Salem Road, poor road and sidewalk conditions, and limited online public records.
Richard Copeland told commissioners the railroad crossing at Mike Salem Road (intersection with Hardaway Highway) has deteriorated cross ties and exposed spikes that he said pose a safety hazard and asked the county to investigate repair or paving of the road. Copeland cited multiple nearby churches and regular local use of the crossing.
Janita (Jamila) Gimo of Midway described a lack of publicly posted minutes and project documents for the City of Midway and asked the county to make budgets and plans more readily available online, arguing citizens should not have to come into county offices to obtain records. Several commissioners and a later public commenter agreed, and a commissioner said staff would look into improving online accessibility.
A speaker who identified herself as Araceli Cruz of “United Voices of Gaston” (as read from the podium) urged the board to affirm the right to peaceful protest and criticized federal law-enforcement actions that she said intimidate protesters. Cruz said the organization represents a broad community membership and asked commissioners to watch how increased law-enforcement grant activity is used; she warned her group and its supporters would be watching future law-enforcement funding decisions.
Commissioners responded to the local complaints in turn. Staff and commissioners acknowledged prior work on crossing and paving complaints, said sidewalks and road improvements are in ongoing plans in some neighborhoods, and committed to follow up about the Mike Salem Road crossing and about sidewalk projects between Quincy and Gretna. On digital access, commissioners agreed to examine whether the county can improve online posting of minutes and documents and to consult IT staff about simple, low-cost solutions.
Ending: County staff agreed to follow up on the railroad crossing inspection and to report back on options to improve online access to public records. The public comment items were recorded for follow-up during the budget and facilities discussions.
