Vote early for SPLOST, candidates in presidential primary

The 2016 SPLOST continuation will be the only local issue on the ballot for the March 1 election. Early voting is ongoing through Friday, Feb. 26 at 5 p.m. at the courthouse. Voters can also cast their ballot for Republican and Democratic candidates in the presidential preferential election.’This is a not a new tax, but a continuation of the existing 1% sales tax that is currently collected in Pike County. The 2016 SPLOST continuation will be designated for the improvement of roads, streets and bridges throughout Pike County and the municipalities in Pike County,’ said county manager John Hanson. ’The county portion of the 2016 SPLOST continuation will be used for resurfacing of existing paved roads as well as county-wide ditching, culvert repair/replacement, and surface treatment on unpaved roads. The county intends to follow a plan based on the cost, traffic load and condition of county roads.’The county’s plan was discussed by commissioners during a recent meeting and includes coordinating the 2016 SPLOST continuation projects parallel to the proposed LMIG projects over the next six years. The recent resurfacing of Williamson-Zebulon Road was the first project in the LMIG side of the plan that spans through 2022.’The plan proposes a total of 35 roads to be resurfaced of which 11 would be funded through the 2016 SPLOST continuation and 24 would be funded through annual LMIG funding,’ said county manager Hanson. ‘Maintaining and reclaiming the integrity of the existing paved roads as well as bringing our unpaved roads up to a higher standard will place our county in a position to consider paving unpaved surfaces in the future, but we must protect the current infrastructure before we can move forward. This 2016 SPLOST continuation is crucial in a time where fuel cost are low and construction cost are expected to rise considerably over the next few years.’The county plan includes starting projects immediately to take advantage of the current market conditions that are favorable for bundling as many projects as possible to maximize the use of the SPLOST funds.’We hope to provide immediate and effective results for the citizens of Pike County,’ said Hanson. ‘The county feels confident about the conservative projections of the collection and the projected plan for the much needed work on our roads in Pike County.’