Waterloo Is Waiting on the Lauderdale County Commission

As this year is winding down, many of us make note of what advances we have accomplished. At this time, it's good to take a look as well at what our governing bodies are accomplishing.

One ongoing project in Lauderdale County has been the improvements to Paradise Drive in Waterloo. To make it short and not so sweet, there still aren't any. Waterloo community activist and spokesman Hank Thomas recently sent this letter to Danny Pettus, commission chair:

Danny, we have now gone almost a year with nothing being done to the defects on Paradise Drive. Dr. Parrish died on January 20, 2019 so eleven months have passed. We were told that AT&T was the holdup on work on the blind curves and hills. Then we were told the engineer did not want to move the equipment unless he could complete the job. Also the gravel to be removed was causing a problem. We drive this road every day concerned that another citizen of Lauderdale county could be hurt or killed, traversing the road. We have had 2 deaths already. When people unaware of the dangers drive the road they often times move to the wrong side of the road to navigate the curves and many times we have dodged vehicles driving on the wrong side of the road. They do so because you cannot see what is coming around the blind curves and the blind hills. We have tried since 2006 to get the defects remedied by the county and thus far to no avail. We have had more grading of the road under your leadership, but the defects noted in 2006 remain. Please look into this matter and help us open up the curves and hills that are blind to traffic. 

Danny I have also attached the letter written February 2012 before the first death in May 2012. It outlines the defects I allude to in this email and have not been addressed except for a few signs that were required by the court in the settlement regarding the young man's death in May of 2012. 

Thanks Hank and the citizens of Paradise Drive.  

What else will it take to ensure the commission keeps its commitment to improve this dangerous roadway? No one wants another death...