October has been a busy month for the Connector team. The consultant team is working toward initiating the scoping process beginning early next year. In the meantime, we are out in the community sharing information about the project and the process. Two of those information-sharing sessions were held earlier this month: a community meeting in the Sheldon/Wilton area and an informational project presentation at a special meeting of the El Dorado County Board of Supervisors.
The Sheldon/Wilton community meeting was held October 6 at C. W. Dillard Elementary School. We had a fantastic turnout, with more than 80 people in attendance. We were also honored to have Elk Grove Mayor Pat Hume and Sacramento County Supervisor Don Nottoli in attendance, as they are the Connector Board members representing the area.
The discussion was spirited and people had many questions about the project and how it will affect their community. Some of those questions and answers will be posted on the Connector web site soon. I encourage anyone with questions about either the general project or specifics about an area to contact us: through the web site, email or calling the office (876-9094).
I was also invited to present information about the Connector at a special meeting of the El Dorado County Board of Supervisors, which focused on transportation issues. Everything from an update on transportation on the west slope to the mining truck study was addressed, with a number of questions specifically about the Connector.
These meetings demonstrate the importance of citizen engagement in this process. Public input and participation is vital for a project of this size and scope. To succeed with this project, whatever form it ultimately takes, we must make sure there are many ways for people to get involved and make people feel comfortable participating.
To that end, we’ll be out in the community more in the coming months. I will continue to repeat an important thought—public involvement is an essential part of this process and I encourage you to get involved. We’ll post upcoming meeting information on the web site and perhaps in future blog entries as well.