Wesley Meiss will be sworn in as Milton Mayor October 14. He was the only “no” vote September 9 to Mayor Guy Thompson’s resolution advocating for the widening of US 90 option, creating four lanes through downtown Milton. This is an option of Florida Department of Transportation’s study to relieve traffic on the regularly congested state road. The study is examining expanding US 90 from Glover Lane to S.R. 87S in East Milton with possible alternatives to impact downtown Milton as minimally as possible. Through a physical and digital petition, and letters to FDOT, the nonprofit organization Main Street Milton led the push for a southern route for US 90 circumventing downtown Milton entirely. Meiss said he also sent a letter to Peggy Kelley, the FDOT Project Manager, supporting the southern route.
During the Milton City Council meeting September 9, Mayor Guy Thompson said the push to include a southern route might be enough to turn FDOT’s attention toward another project within the state with less interference, causing the US 90 thoroughfare to not receive any help with constant congestion, thus federal and state monies would go elsewhere.
While he did not speak on the subject in council, Meiss later said, “It would be an injustice to not include a southern option.” Thompson cited land in the path of the southern route is held by Florida Forever, the state’s conservation and recreation lands acquisition program, and is red flagged by DEP. Meiss said he heard four-laning US 90 through downtown Milton had also been red flagged for historical reasons. “We value history and culture,” he said.
A southern route to US 90 would relieve traffic, but would take those cars around downtown businesses. Through research, Meiss said, one finds the exact opposite happens with traffic. “The whole purpose is to find the best solution. We want to know everything. We don’t want to leave any stone unturned,” he said.
As to the mayor suggesting individuals may benefit financially from a southern route, Meiss said, “I don’t buy into it. I think it’s a scare tactic. I’d like to see it.” He said he’s never talked to anybody who has supported the southern route for personal financial gain. “I’ve been a member of the county my whole life and I know the public wants a southern alternative. What the mayor presented wasn’t on the agenda. I didn’t have time to prepare and he ramrodded [the resolution] through council. As mayor, I don’t think I’ll do that unless it’s an emergency,” he said.
Meiss said City Planning Director Randy Jorgenson reiterated in committee Thursday the possibility of losing the US 90 study due to interference. Commissioner Bob Cole, who previously supported the southern route, said the aforementioned Peggy Kelley and Amy Wiwi, of Metric Engineering, the consulting firm handling the study were the ones who suggested the possibility of FDOT dropping the project. Phone calls to Metric Engineering were not returned by press time. At a recent Transportation Planning Organization (TPO) meeting, Cole said Thompson presented the 7 to 1 resolution. The Escambia County commissioners, Cole said, wouldn’t support the southern route if Milton’s mayor wouldn’t.
However, Cole said he would not stand in the way of the new mayor. However, Cole said Meiss should consider a poll to see which option the majority of the city supports.
This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: Officials respond to expansion of U.S. 90