Wednesday, Mar. 16, 2011

Garner 'not pulling punches'

Town might sue Turnpike Authority

Town leaders appear to have had enough.

At first, they politely asked the N.C. Turnpike Authority to scrap the red route as an option for the Triangle Expressway through southern Wake County.

When that didn't work, Garner leaders began writing letters, making phone calls and holding meetings to sway turnpike engineers. They also rallied residents in a series of community meetings.

The Turnpike Authority gave a little, pledging not to build the red route but also saying it would continue to study that option.

Now, Garner's delegation in the N.C. General Assembly has introduced a bill that would prevent the Turnpike Authority from considering the red route. The bill cleared the Senate last week and is headed to the House.

Still, the red route remains, at least on paper, and that irks Garner leaders, who say the Turnpike Authority's refusal to erase the route is costing the town jobs and tax base.

Mayor Ronnie Williams is so frustrated that he's willing to sue the Turnpike Authority. Williams and Town Attorney Bill Anderson confirmed last week that Garner is exploring its legal options.

"We're looking for any and all ways to thwart their efforts," Williams said. "We're looking into what it would take to file a lawsuit."

Anderson, the town attorney, added, "I'm working on putting together a committee [of attorneys] representing local businesses who would be interested in the viability of a lawsuit."

Anderson said he hoped the bill moving through the General Assembly would make legal action unnecessary. But Williams said he'd still favor legal action if the Turnpike Authority's inaction scared off potential business.

Earlier this month, Garner's economic-development director, Tony Beasley, said an unidentified health-care company has been waiting for the Turnpike Authority to remove the red route from consideration before buying 10 acres of land in Greenfield South Business Park. Beasley said the company would locate its business and 225 jobs elsewhere if the Turnpike Authority doesn't officially abandon the route by March 28.

Beasley said the health-care company would pay an average wage of $50,000 a year.

"The loss of those jobs would be devastating," the mayor said.

In the meantime, Anderson is searching for ways to prevent the Turnpike Authority from even stepping foot in Garner to study the red route. More than a thousand property owners received letters last week informing them that Turnpike Authority engineers might visit their land for further research. The letter said that biologists need to locate and study wetlands, streams and animal and plant species.

A state law allows turnpike engineers access to private property, according to the letter. Williams has asked Anderson to find a loophole through which Garner could charge engineers with trespassing.

"If that route is built, it would be like a tornado coming through Garner," Williams said. "We're not pulling any punches."