This is the question commissioners will answer March 3 when they consider a rezoning request for a community health center at 312 Faith Church Road near Four Oaks.

Tri County Community Health Center, or TCCHC, has received a federal grant to open a community health center within southeastern Johnston County. The grant targeted five distinguished census tracts that are considered to be medically underserved and represent more than 6,000 uninsured residents. TCCHC is an accredited organization that will provide medical, dental, behavioral health and outreach home services from this location.

Two churches in the local community have demonstrated their support for the health center by allowing Tri County to temporarily use their buildings for medical education and screenings. Also, a local resident has donated four acres of land for the health center. It is an appropriate location for a rural health center, and both adjoining landowners have given their solid support. It is hard to think that anyone would not support such an outstanding gift to Johnston County, especially one that will provide healthcare to the noninsured and underinsured that now overcrowd the hospital emergency room and health department.

Our County Commissioners have the opportunity to improve the lives of thousands of people of all ages regardless of age, race, greed, or color for many generations to come. Given the facts, there are no valid reasons not to support a new community health center on Faith Church Road. For any bizarre reason that it is not approved, it will be at the expense of the greater good of the people, and our county commissioners will have disgraced themselves and the county they represent. I believe strongly that time will surely mark it as so.

SHERRY JACKSON
Green Pasture Road, Four Oaks