Residents and a public speaker press Gadsden commissioners for a transparent road‑priority list

Residents and at least one member of the public urged the Gadsden County Board on March 17 to publish the county’s road‑prioritization master list and the methodology staff used to select which paving and maintenance projects move forward.

Lamonte Horn, who identified himself and asked the board to "let government in sunshine be more than a slogan," said the public had not been given scoring criteria or a transparent ranking explaining why some roads were prioritized over others. "This isn't just about asphalt. It is about the equitable distribution of public resources," he said, asking the board either to provide those answers on the record or to commit to producing priority rankings and selection criteria publicly.

Multiple commissioners echoed the request for full documentation in packet materials before votes, saying they had not received the master list or cost details when a recent pavement package reached the dais. Commissioners and staff agreed to post the master list and the selection criteria used, and several asked that future agenda packets include the supporting documentation and procurement memoranda so members and members of the public can review the data before decisions.

Outcome: The board voted to proceed with a set of road projects this evening, but multiple commissioners recorded concerns and asked staff to return with the master list, project scopes and cost estimates for each district before final mobilization of work. Staff committed to providing the requested documentation.