It seems our lives are often filled with questions.
Where am I going to eat lunch? What will I do this weekend? Why has this work week seemed so long? When will an elected official do what he/she promised while campaigning?
Those are probably just a a few that cross our minds on a regular basis.
Still, there are questions involving our home here in Winder and Barrow County that cross my mind from time to time. Some I have attempted to obtain answers to before. Others are newer questions but I would still like to have them answered. Any and all help is appreciated in advance. For example:
•Why has Holly Hill Mall, once something to brag about, been allowed to crumble and deteriorate? I’m not talking about the businesses who have their base of operations there, but the overall condition of the area from the dangerous condition of the parking lot to the crumbling nature of the buildings. Why is the owner not made to pave this one big pothole of a parking lot? Is it because of who they are? Is it because of connections to the right people? I would love an answer.
•Why has the Barrow County School System decided to stick with holding graduation ceremonies on the same night for our two local high schools? I’ve heard nothing but complaints about the way it was handled last year, but recently it was announced both senior classes would be forced to share the same night again next spring. Why? Wouldn’t the better choice be to allow each senior class their own night without having school officials peeling out of one before it is five minutes old in a mad rush to get to the other one? We don’t have 50 high schools here. Having one on a Thursday and one on a Friday is the obvious answer.
•Why does it appear so many criminals are simply given a slap on the wrist after being arrested locally? It has been an eye opener for me since our paper started almost two years ago to read the massive amounts of crime news each week. Our law enforcement personnel are doing a great job of arresting the criminals, but why are they often given plea deals, sometimes for serious crimes? If there is no consequence for your action, why would you bother changing your behavior in the future?
•When will the owner of the old Peskins building be required to do something about the hazard this property has become? Why haven’t they already been made to do something? Once again, does it come down to who you are as to whether you are made to live up to your responsibilities as a property owner in the City of Winder?
•Why do some governing bodies in Barrow County think they can operate in secret? Like a scene from politics of yesterday, we have some local government officials who think they can violate open meetings laws and get away with it. They may have received a free pass in years gone by, but that is no longer the case with us here. And yes, we know a few of you don’t like us outing the illegal nature of these meetings and don’t like it that we are “stepping on the toes” of some sacred cows locally. However, to us, it’s more important to expose wrong doing when it happens. That is not going to change so the political folks might as well get used to it, or start operating the way government agencies should — in an open and legal manner.
•What are City of Winder officials doing about the ongoing traffic issues in the downtown area? We have long ago reached critical mass and it has become dangerous to just drive through the downtown area at certain times. City officials need to demand action on traffic and I’m not talking about putting together a study or focus group. Do something now. It’s long overdue. If you value the safety of your citizens, you will do something — now.
Chris Bridges is editor of the Barrow Journal. He can be reached at cbridges@barrowjournal.com.
