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City Council takes streets into system Melodie Phelps News Editor Barnes Drive and Rolling Acres Boulevard will become city streets, following action taken Monday night by Monticello City Council. The vote came after several discussions concerning repairs to the two heavily traveled streets. During a meeting in January, the council had heard the second reading of an ordinance concerning the streets and had reviewed an estimate of repairs. Property owner Patrick Barnes said he would pay 50 percent of the $1,850 estimate to repair two holes in the street. At that time the council mentioned several other repairs that would be needed to bring the street up to a condition to be accepted into the street system. There was also some concern that this action would set a precedent, after the city had recently approved an ordinance outlining guidelines for streets that are considered for acceptance into the street system. Monday night the council again heard the second reading of the ordinance accepting the two streets, with an attached estimate from Raganıs Paving for $6,850. Barnes addressed the council after the ordinance was read again, and presented a timeline to council members regarding this issue. He stated that he first submitted a petition to the council in January 1998 and did not receive a written response. Since then, the issue has been discussed on several occasions. Last year, Barnes came back to the council with a traffic survey of the area, noting that about 4,000 vehicles a day travel through this area. Barnes told the council that he had invested $50,800 in having the streets built, and that the public has utilized these streets since they were built. He agreed to pay half of the original estimate for street repairs. Councilman Phillip Duncan made a motion to accept the streets, with Barnes paying half of the $1,850 estimate for repairs. It was seconded by Councilman Dan Daffron, and was approved by a 4-2 vote. Councilmen Alvin Sexton and Jeffrey Edwards were opposed. In other action Monday, the council approved a resolution authorizing condemnation proceedings for a sewer easement for the College Street Sewer Project. Mayor Thurston Frye explained that the Monticello Utility Commission has already approved this, but that the city council has to authorize it as well. Frye said the MUC has had problems obtaining easements for property owned by Gerald I. Lair, to proceed with the sewer project. During his comments to the council, Frye discussed the increased traffic enforcement by the Monticello Police Department. Frye said he has heard many positive comments about the increased traffic enforcement. ³I have heard many positive things...People have said to me that they feel it is much safer to drive in the City of Monticello than it was two or three years ago,² stated Frye. Frye said that Monticello is not a ³speed trap² and that police use discretion in writing speeding tickets. ³We expect you to drive at the speed limit, to stop at stop signs, not to park in fire lines or in handicapped spaces,² Frye said, as he addressed the television audience Monday. Frye also informed the council that there will be a work session with members of fiscal court on Tuesday, February 22 at 11:15 a.m. at the ASPIRE Center. Several issues regarding fire protection will be discussed. Add a comment |
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