Marion County Public Works Director Larry Thacker agrees with Lake's road chief. "I am going to get the call - you need to come and grade this road," Thacker said.

Jim Beeman, group leader for 'County Vehicles', met with Dr. Thacker April 2.Letter from Lawrence Thacker, Public Works Bureau Chief, dated February 25, 2008, regarding the above questions. PDF of letter here.

The lawsuit also cites a letter to employees from Public Works Director Larry Thacker, in which Thacker warned employees that speaking to council members is a violation of city rules. Union leaders claim that by silencing employees, city officials are in violation of the state and U.S. constitutions, which they say "guarantee the right to freely contact and discuss with any legislator virtually any matter of concern that a resident may have."

Larry Thacker, director of public works, said it's a matter of prioritizing roads in the city because there isn't enough money to go around. "I can't in good conscience pave roads that no one's living on," Thacker said."That's not fair to the other residents of the city." The city's budget is projected through the 2007 fiscal year and does not include plans for improving Letchworth Street. The city estimated it will cost about $300,000 to pave Letchworth Street and neighboring Centamino Street, which also is dirt.Thacker said he thinks the two roads are the only unpaved roads in the city, though he is unsure. Both roads are off Dreyfuss Boulevard, which also becomes dirt when it reaches the two unpaved roads.Other neighboring streets have a few houses.Some are new in appearance.There are no houses on either unpaved street.