Council will replace water line

By Eloria Newell James, community@leadercall.com

May 07, 2008 09:33 am

— After little discussion, the Laurel City Council Tuesday night voted to lower the speed limit on one city street in an effort to provide a safe environment for pedestrians. The council also approved the installation of a new water line for one area in the city.
The council voted 6-0, Ward Six Councilman Johnny Magee was absent, to approve the immediate need to replace a two-inch water line along Northwood Drive between Old Bay Springs Road and Audubon Drive.
The repair, which officials say is needed to meet health standards, is estimated to cost approximately $130,000.
According to officials, approximately 25 to 30 residences suffer from low water pressure that is below the state health requirements.
With Tuesday’s approval, officials plan to replace the existing 2-inch water line on Northwood Drive with an 8-inch water line that is expected to increase the residents’ water pressure.
Ward One Councilperson Willie Lavone Evans and several residents present at the council meeting questioned why the Northwood Drive project was being considered before other projects.
“I support this project, but areas where people have been crying out for help for years need to be considered,” Evans said. “We have areas where raw sewage has been coming up, and I want us to correct some problems all over the city.”
City officials said the matter on Northwood Drive is a health matter and needs to be done for public safety.
City Council president George Carmichael, who is also chairman of the council’s Public Works Committee, and Councilman Manuel Jones, who is chairman of the council’s Public Safety Committee, agreed adding that repairs are needed throughout the city.
Carmichael said a meeting to discuss the city’s overall water and sewer line status has been scheduled for later this month.
In another matter, the council with a 6-0 vote approved an ordinance to reduce the speed limit on 18th Street.
According to the ordinance, a reduced speed is needed “because 18th Street between 7th and 5th Avenue is located in an area that’s commonly used for pedestrians entering and leaving Mason Park. It is in the citizens’ best interest to lower the current speed limit.”
Ward Two Councilman Tony Wheat said the street is in the midst of Mason Park where a lot of individuals walk.
“There’s a lot of vehicular and pedestrian traffic in this area,” Police Chief Walter “Bear” Martin told the council during the agenda setting meeting last week. “The police department has studied the matter and I recommend we reduce the speed limit and enforce the new lower speed limit.”
Officials also noted that the speed limit throughout the city is 30 miles per hour, unless otherwise posted.
Also Tuesday, the council approved the second reading of an ordinance that would clarify the city’s position on garbage fee exemptions.
The Laurel City Council in April approved the first reading of an ordinance adding an amendment to the city’s ordinance Section 22-39, Chapter 22 “Solid Waste” of the Laurel Code of Ordinances pertaining to exemption of garbage fees.
City officials said the amendment should eliminate a problem the city has concerning exemptions.
The request for the amendment came from the city’s Public Works Department and the Water Department.
Chapter 22, “Solid Waste”, Section 22-39, “Residential and Business Districts”, does allow for a contractor, approved by the city, to pick up garbage and charge a fee for that service; but it does not have appropriate language for the city to remove the garbage fee from the account.
Officials said this amendment allows the city to go in and review its current records and correct any bills that may not have the fee assessed properly.
Also Tuesday, the council discussed several public safety/public works committees’ matters, along with routine matters concerning the claims docket.
In other business, the City Council agreed to allow the Laurel Police Department to accept two High-Dry Rain Suits from the Sertoma of Laurel Club and two Fingerprint Magnifiers from the Jones County District Attorney’s Office.