TCBC Calls For Action From Local Leaders

We have experienced leadership on both the Tuolumne County Board of Supervisors and on the Sonora City Council. Chairman Rodefer and Mayor Williams have demostrated strong leadership skills in the past and it is these skills that the Tuolumne County Business Council calls to action.

The Mono Way/Greenley Road intersection improvement is long overdue and a critical component to the Sonora Regional Medical Center Pavilion Project. The Business Council is pleased the City has now made public the dates of the various steps needed to complete the intersection project to coincide with the completion of the Pavilion. Having the Pavilion completed prior to the completion of the intersection creates public safety concerns and complicates access for our critical emergency services.

An important step for the project is the land acquisition. We encourage both sides to negotiate in good faith and we have been given assurances that this is happening. A complicating factor to the acquisition is just how much land will be acquired. If the City acquires just enough land to technically complete the intersection but leaves a small parcel with questionable access then our community is faced with all sorts of negative impacts at the busiest intersection in the City and County. Odd parcels tend to be difficult to develop and expensive to improve. Our County has too many odd parcels already. They become eyesores, attract vagrants and have negative impacts on the workload of our first responders. The Business Council would support the acquisition of all the necessary right of way property and any contiguous remaining property so that the entire corner can be planned, developed and maintained in a consistent, safe and attractive manner.

Real Estate sales and acquisitions can be complicated matters but this project has been in the works since early 2015. Chairman and Mayor, it is time to lead this project and direct your staff to its completion.

Written by Glenn Caldwell