MonticelloLive

The voters of Drew County will go to the voting booth, Nov. 13, to cast their ballots for, or against, the continuation of the “county road tax”.

MonticelloLive.com recently visited with Drew County Judge Damon Lampkin, to discuss the benefits of renewing the existing tax, and take a look at the results of the road tax we’ve paid in, up to this point.

During the interview, Judge Lampkin made several important points. 

Our current road tax will expire around March 1, 2008.

The election on Nov. 13 is a vote to continue the current tax we’re paying now, NOT for an additional tax.

During the past year, the county road crew has either paved or ”chip & sealed” (over gravel) approximately 40 miles of county roads.

Overall, the road improvements have been, basically, equally divided among all of the different J.P. districts.

Road maintenence takes place year-round, while paving can take place only during warmer months, due to the temperature required for the pavement to “cure”.

Judge Lampkin also explained that Drew County is one of only a few counties which bid on improving “state aid roads.”

State aid roads are county roads that meet certain requirements, such as serving as a “connector” road between 2 state highways.

Drew County has been re-imbursed approximately $750,000 in state monies, over the past few years, which has been returned to the county road fund.

 Judge Lampkin said this wouldn’t have been possible, without the “county road tax”, since the program is a “re-imbursement” based program.

Judge Lampkin, among others, is certainly in favor of the renewal of the “county road tax” on Nov. 13, and encourages you to support it, as well.