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Wednesday, November 25, 2015

Your Tax Dollars At Work

We all know that too many of our tax dollars are wasted every year by the government, sometimes through ridiculous projects, bad decisions, fraud or outright poor accounting.  Once in a while, a really good use of tax dollars comes along.

Here at the J. Strom Thurmond COE at Thurmond Lake is the Bartram Trail, a trail that winds around portions of the lake through beautiful untouched forests.  The trail is used by hikers, mountain bikers and horse owners.

 
A newly installed area at the head of the trail has some nice features for trail users.
 
A kiosk, with information about the trail as well as tear off maps to use to follow the trail.
 
 
 
A special stall for horse owners to hitch their horses and water hoses to give the horses drinks as well as a washing after navigating the trail.
 
 
Something I've never seen before is installed there.
 
 
It is a work station for bike riders.  It has a rack at the top to hang a bike, an air pump to inflate tires and even tools hanging on cables for repairs and adjustments.



Along with picnic tables and pit toilets, there is even a changing room.  Who wants to get in their car to drive home in sweaty clothes after a day biking or hiking on the trail?  Not me.  This is another great idea.

 
Sometimes tax dollars are well spent.   :c)
 
In the meantime, along with many small tasks and getting set up for another season of Water Safety presentations in the local schools, we've been doing checks of the parks to keep areas in working order.  Occasionally things happen that need to be taken care of immediately, like this tree that washed up and blocked a popular boat access ramp.
 
 
Things are going to slow down a bit as the holidays approach, but there are plenty of things to keep us busy (and out of trouble).   :c)

Thanks for visiting and feel free to leave a comment.

15 comments:

  1. I like seeing my tax dollars spent on such neat ideas. Parks are so underfunded and that is sad. Boat owners appreciate your getting rid of that tree.

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  2. I like seeing my tax dollars spent on such neat ideas. Parks are so underfunded and that is sad. Boat owners appreciate your getting rid of that tree.

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  3. Nice to see the tax dollars being spent of useful items.

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  4. Very interesting. I've never seen a trail head like that before.

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  5. We've seen those bike stations in Florida, but never in SC...nice addition!!!

    Hope you guys have a Happy Thanksgiving and enjoy some family time:o))

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  6. I'm so glad to learn that you're taking care of our tax dollars. I'm sure we can trust you and the work you're doing there. It sure beats the other options and how are dollars are being used.

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  7. I love that bike "work" station. Very cool indeed.

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  8. That is the neatest trailhead I have ever seen. Sadly, I doubt Strom would have approved such an expenditure. Pretty sure if they asked the citizens to vote on spending tax dollars on our parks, a larger amount would be approved by us than is approved by our congress. Thanks for showing us this. Very cool!!

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  9. What a terrific idea to put at the trail heads. We biked part of the Bartram trail when we were there, it's a great trail with great views of the lake.

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  10. A bike repair station, what a great idea. I hope your holiday was lovely.

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  11. A bike repair station, what a great idea. I hope your holiday was lovely.

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  12. Glad you could be a part of those well spent dollars, since I'm sure you saw enough waste in your time with the CG.

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  13. My wife and I raised our 2 girls in SC and camped at Modoc for Many wonderful weekends during the 70s We are retired now and living in Northern Michigan. We have managed to get back t camp at Modoc only once in the 40 years we have been married. We hope to return next summer as we have traveled all over the eastern half of the US and have yet to find a nicer place.

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