EDITOR,

I am a longtime Felton resident who recently moved to Lompico. Before dawn Sunday morning, Oct. 18, Lompico Road was closed due to a down tree, and everyone who wanted to leave home was forced to climb all the way up and around steep, narrow, residential Lake Boulevard. I understand this is a common development, one of the consequences of living in a rugged area.

What I cannot understand or accept is that, later in the evening, the road was still closed, still requiring a perilous detour for all traffic in both directions. How could such a serious and disruptive hazard not have been dealt with by the end of a sunny day, with no storm or other related problems taxing available services?

When I arrived at the roadblock in the dark at 8:30 Sunday night, not only was a long line of cars waiting to use this winding, treacherous route, but a number of cars had to back down the narrow curves of Lake Boulevard to allow a tow truck access to a car that had gone off the road. What if there was a fire in this canyon community? Can you imagine the disaster that might ensue?

I was most disturbed by what I repeatedly heard from veteran Lompico residents: “Get used to it. This is Lompico. We get ignored.” 

Well, I will not join their bitter resignation. There is no excuse for a tree blocking the only road access to Lompico not being removed 15 hours later. Ever.

Supervisor Mark Stone and other officials, please act responsibly to make sure that hazards to the safety of Lompico, from road blockages to power failures, are dealt with in as quick and deliberate a manner as the well-being of your constituents deserves.