RSS Feed
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Speaker Hammett suggests ALDOT revamping
Hammett spoke Tuesday in the Clarke County Courthouse at the invitation of State Rep. Marc Keahey, D-Grove Hill. Hammett represents the 92nd District, which includes Covington and Escambia Counties. He was first elected to the State House in 1978. No long range plans "…In Alabama, back as far as I know…we have never had long range plans for highway construction and maintenance." Hammett believes that highways, short-line railroad, inland waterways and airports should all be brought under the umbrella of the Department of Transportation. Then, "we need to form a commission to operate that department. "…We want to have that commission employ a professional to operate that department so long range plans can be made and implemented. We're missing the boat in regard to that. Every time the governor's office changes, priorities change." Had to cut the timber twice A highway project might get started, then it stops. Hammett talked about Highway 157 from Cullman to the Shoals area where "it was under four-lane construction for so long, they had to cut the timber on the right-of-way twice. "…You've got to create a professional organization that continues year-to-year-to-year so that someone can say 'yes, we are going to make (Highway 84) a priority'…then, have the ability to carry it forward. "…You can't four-lane Highway 84 between Interstate [65] and through Clarke County in a four-year term of office," the Speaker said. "…We've got to have an organization in place that recognizes trans- portation as a system." What about other infrastructure needs in rural Alabama such as water and sewer? "We have a program called CDBG (Community Development Block Grant)…that provides some monies for that program," Hammett said, "but we need help in all areas of infrastructure…. Local communities can't help themselves, and we can't rely on the federal government to come in and bail us out. It's up to us to decide if we want to do something for ourselves. Must be prepared "Officials with the Alabama Development Office will tell you that most industries are looking for developed cites - to include a speculative building. Eighty percent are looking for a place they can move in and start their operation. If you don't have water, sewer, electricity, the other basic components at your site, then you're not in competition." If a county does have developed sites, then there is the issue of having a trained workforce in place. "If we're going to continue to be able to attract those businesses to our state, we're going to have to do a better job in public education," Hammett said. "…You can't learn if you can't read. If you can't read by the time you finish the third grade, at grade level, you're probably never going to be able to read very well." Reading deemed important Hammett mentioned the Alabama Reading Initiative, which helps students from kindergarten to third grade learn how to read. "We're going to have to spend the resources that we need to (teach reading) or we are going to get left behind," he said. "Sixty-two percent of the people in school today graduate. You would think it would be 90 percent because our dropout rate is only 10 percent. That other 28 percent that is not graduating get a certificate of completion but not a diploma…. That is no longer acceptable." Once they've graduated, the state has got to do a better job in technical education and workforce development, the Speaker said. "Eighty percent of the jobs available for people in this county and other (counties) require some level of technical skill. "All kinds of things are being revealed about the two-year college system….You would think if you read The Birmingham News, everything about it is negative. Some good things "Some good things come out of out of the system." Hammett pointed to Rep. Keahey as an example. He attended Lurleen B. Wallace Community College. Hammett is a former president of LBWCC.
The two-year college system under former chancellor Roy Johnson "got carried away - did some things it shouldn't have done," he said. "Those things are coming to light, and other things will be revealed. But, we can't forget the fact that our two-year college system provides a great avenue for people to have a way to get the first two years of academic credit for a four-year college degree and provide a great means of technical education and workforce training."
|
for larger version       |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
)
