Editor,
I read the articles about ARPA funding. ARPA is a good contributor of why the federal money printing machine has devalued the U.S. currency by nearly 30% in 4 years causing huge inflation for everyone for the benefit of few.
Why not do a series about Richland County ARPA spending in sister media Richland Source?
The current Richland County Commissioners have an arrogant attitude toward the rural citizens, and it has been demonstrated in spending for years. I live on Pleasant Valley Road and the road has been terrible for years, some caused by numerous overweight trucks going to the TC Energy Weaver compressor station and semis using it as a cut through to I-71.
Several years ago the county tarred & chipped Pleasant Valley Road versus paving for the first time in the over 30 years I’ve lived here. This isn’t a back road, it’s a main thoroughfare between Mansfield, I-71 and tourist areas like Malabar Farm, Mohican, Pleasant Hill Lake, etc.
As you probably are aware, the tar & chip (or as politicians try to polish it “chip and seal,” which is inaccurate) is dirty with lime dust continuously sloughing off from the breakdown of the limestone, and very noisy.
I talked to Commissioner Tony Vero and his arrogant response to me was “people in the country shouldn’t expect the same services people in the city receive…”
I told him we all pay the same effective county taxes so the the county spending should be relatively equal throughout the county, no matter whether it is a rural area or urban area.
Commissioners can put up $500,000 toward the $2 million tunnel for a bike trail tunnel under Trimble Road in Mansfield for people on bicycles that pay no license fees or fuel taxes, but neglect their roads people use to get to work.
How does this ARPA tunnel boondoggle help the average taxpayer?
I’ve noticed the county is sending a lot of ARPA funds on stuff for the comfort of the government employees, but it appears little is being spent for the majority. I’m sure some investigative review of their ARPA spending would uncover some gems.
Look forward to a response.
Phil Gerwig,
Perrysville, Ohio