Plan to reduce road deaths by removing trees draws pushback
Commission Chair Jen Strebs understands the worries over what she said is the loss of 8,000 trees.
“I think this is an example of how that meaningful dialogue when we develop strategies to address widespread systemic issues really have to include community voice. When they do not, which is what appears has occurred in this process, we end up with policies and approaches that can ultimately be harmful in ways we don’t recognize [...],” she said.
Strebs said county commissioners and members of the road commission have discussed the concerns. For her, balancing safety and residents’ desires goes to managing behavior on the road.
“Understanding our responsibilities as citizens, drivers, community members and residents — that driving is something that has deep responsibility and we have to help connect with people to own that responsibility,” Strebs said.
