Taxpayer Inquiry into ODOT's Hostile Incursions into Brooklyn Centre July 1, 2010

The following text comes from the office of State Senator Shirley Smith nand should not be construed as the sentiment of aggrieved taxpayers:
MEETING NOTICE: I-71 Pearl/W. 25th Street & Fulton Noise Mitigation Project
When: 6:30 p.m., THURSDAY, JULY 1st
Where: Basement meeting room at the historic Jones Home (Applewood Center) building - entrance is off the main parking lot in the back of the building that fronts W. 25th Street. An elevator is provided.
Who: ODOT and Great Lakes Construction
Tentative agenda:
1. Overview of Project
a. Planning and decision process
b. Final review and modifications to plans
c. Construction schedule
2. Discussion on potential enhancement funding for additional landscape and tree plantings
3. Q&A for general issues and for properties directly impacted by construction

Also, according to ODOT there was a meeting on July 22, 2009 at the Applewood Center and also an Old Brooklyn Community Devolvement Corporation Meeting on July 23, 2009. At these meetings 156 surveys were distributed to residents on the 'front-line' of I-71. Of the surveys distributed at the meetings 66 surveys were returned. Eighteen (18) residents along Smith Road signed a petition and sent in surveys stating they did not want a noise barrier because their houses faced the proposed barrier, therefore any barrier along that stretch was eliminated. Thirty-two (32) surveys were from front-line receivers along Riverside Drive and Poe Avenue where we proposed to build noise barriers. Twenty-nine (29) were in favor of the noise barrier and three (3) were against noise barriers.
According to ODOT, they are looking into the idea of a 'Living Wall'. I was informed that more research will need to be done to ensure this type of wall meets federal requirements for addressing noise conditions and can withstand northeast Ohio conditions. Although ODOT did not propose a 'living wall' I-71, they are currently performing research on another Interstate in Ohio.