Residents urge Pierce County to avoid paving Moore Street, citing safety and drainage concerns

Several residents raised concerns about Moore Street during the public-comment period at the Pierce County Board of Commissioners meeting on May 7.

Billie Ann King, director of Pierce County 4-H, asked the board to help the organization find a 5,000-square-foot building or a 1-acre site for shooting-sports practice; Chairman Neal Bennett said the request would be investigated. Resident Karen Herndon then gave a presentation on the history of Moore Street and Shiloh Road and warned that paving those roads could increase speeding and heavier traffic, degrade drainage and cause washouts. In the transcript Herndon said the road is "dangerous due to people speeding and running through stop signs," and urged the board to keep trees intact for safety and to protect the road's character.

Tracy Kinsey, representing neighbors of Moore Street, described the street's heritage and asked the board to consider creating an additional entrance/exit to nearby apartments rather than paving and removing trees. Later, Roger Hamelin/Hamlin described blight near Farrs Furniture, saying squatters occupy abandoned structures and litter (mattresses, tires, vehicles) is a problem; he also said some roads have "extremely large potholes." Chairman Bennett recommended Mr. Hamelin speak with the Codes Department to address violations.

The board did not vote on Moore Street paving at this meeting. Public comments were recorded and the board noted it would investigate the 4-H facility request; no formal board directive or change to the paving schedule for Moore Street was recorded in the meeting minutes.

Ending: The board acknowledged the public comments and suggested follow-up (Codes Department referral for blight complaints and investigation of the 4-H facility request) but took no formal action on Moore Street paving during the May 7 meeting.