Several roadblocks keep businesses from the area

Dear Editor,

This is in reply to Mr. Ferguson's letter regarding our current commissioners and their failures. He is right in his observation that Carbon County needs to attract business. But when a business is interested in locating here, there are other factors that come into play.

Such as township supervisors who throw up all the roadblocks they can to deter that business from coming into their area.

Just ask Walmart and Lowe's about the hoops they had to jump through in Mahoning Township. Ask the doctor who wanted to put Coordinated Health there why he didn't. Ask why people say "we don't want that here because of the noise, trucks, traffic, etc. that will be coming through our towns."

Yes, out in Towamensing Township there is easier access to 80, 81 and 380, but when you get into Jim Thorpe and the valley area, it becomes more difficult for large trucks to navigate through the smaller roads and the mountains surrounding the smaller towns.

Warehouses need larger areas and better access to the interstates and turnpike. As far as using the railroads, where would the most logical place to load the trains be? Packerton Yards! Why not there?

You need an access road for the trucks and the township wants a sidewalk for all the people who walk on the road, another hoop to jump through. Can someone answer why Mahoning Township's new building doesn't have sidewalks out on the road in front of it?

So don't blame the commissioners when many others need to shoulder some of the blame. Maybe forming a task force with members of all the county's townships and town councils giving input and trying to help instead of hinder jobs coming to Carbon County could solve part of the problem.

Respectfully,

Sandy Welsh