Sales tax plan will work if well-organized

I am glad to see our City Council unanimously voted to place the 10-year local-option sales tax to a community vote on Nov. 5.

I am all for it under the following conditions:

l Our council and mayor provide a signed letter to the residents of Cedar Rapids that the funds will be used solely for road and associated infrastructure repair and replacement. This would address the lack of trust issue and would do more than a four-color postcard campaign.

l A prioritized list of roads that will benefit from this 10-year tax is provided so that neighborhoods know they will be seeing their street improve.

l Improved detour signage is provided on all affected roads so that residents and visitors to our fair city have a clear alternate path to travel rather than abruptly coming upon a “Road Closed” sign without arrows guiding them to an alternate route.

l Hiring a city engineer who is able to plan closures more effectively to avoid closing off all commuter routes at the same time, e.g. Cottage Grove and Bever Avenue SE.

We need to believe our council and mayor are acutely aware of their need to be clear, concise and transparent in requesting our vote for this important need.

Jerry Gillon

Cedar Rapids