"Wait a minute." The fool reporter again. He'd dropped his notebook and was on the floor getting it. "Okay, go ahead."

"Announcement of projects approved, April board meeting," Joe said. "Presentation of engineering concept drawings, July board meeting. Public comment period following. Final county board approval by January first of next year. Detailed engineering and putting out for bids, approximately one more year. Construction begins after that." He handed the page to Wade. "If we were approved, we'd vote in December. They'd start work about a year and a half later."

"There is no way we'll get accepted," Randy said. "Now, in my opinion, I don't think we should apply if we're not even going to be approved. Those folks in Raleigh have plenty to do as it is without going through a bunch of papers from us way out here that don't have any chance of being accepted anyway."

Wade was staring at him, full flabbergasted.

"Are you flat crazy?" he finally said.

Joe tapped his gavel. "Any more discussion?"

Louise had a question. "Joe, why only four weeks? I've never heard of such a short deadline."

"The letter came back in October."

"Nobody saw it?" she asked.

"It came to Mort," Joe said. Then he had to wait a minute. "He was the county contact for the Department of Transportation. It was out at his house. I only saw it yesterday." He glanced out at the audience, at the one person who hadn't yet said a word. "I think we'll vote now. Go ahead, Patsy."

"Wait a minute!"

Joe was already plenty angry without the fool reporter interrupting every two minutes. "The board is not accepting public comment," he said.

"You can't just vote!" the reporter said. "Nobody even knows what you're doing!" "There's no requirement to schedule public hearings before we apply. Go ahead."

"Mrs. Brown?" Patsy said.

"Joe, you're sure we'd vote again if it's approved?" Louise said.

"That's what it says."

"Well ... I'd want to think more about it. But to apply, I'll say yes."

"Mr. Esterhouse?"

"Yes."

"Eliza?"

"I vote no."

"Mr. Harris?"

"Yes, so it passes. Good."

"Mr. McCoy?"

"Well, it's already passed, so it doesn't matter."

Patsy waited. "Are you abstaining?"

"What? Oh. Well, I really don't think we should apply, and even more I don't think we should build a road, but I hate to vote no and seem contrary when something's already passed."

"What are you voting?" Wade asked.

"I suppose I'll say yes, since it doesn't matter anyway. But I know it won't get approved."

"That's four in favor, one opposed," Patsy said.

"Motion carries," Joe said. "Lyle, you'll make sure someone in the office fills in the forms?"

"I will, Joe." Lyle would probably do it himself. He was about all the engineering staff the county had. Patsy would check it over to make sure it was done right.

"And if it does get approved, somehow," Randy was saying, "I think a lot of people will have a lot to say about it."