Cleaning, paving and slowing traffic on Bruce roadways dominated discussion at the Bruce Board meeting Tuesday night.
The board considered installing new 4-way stop signs around town in several places such as the Creekmore and Johnson Street intersection.
Alderwoman Ellen Shaw and Alderman Danny Rodgers disagreed on the need for a stop sign in some spots.
Police Chief Stan Evans suggested a traffic survey be done first before determining where the stop signs are placed and the board agreed.
Mayor Rudy Pope said he expects a stop sign or redlight to be installed at Hwy. 9 and Center Street intersection when the new bank opens, but suggested it’s a major traffic problem now.
Bruce Mayor Rudy Pope
The board agreed to ban large trucks on the east end of Center Street to try to ease some of the traffic.
Mayor Pope said he planned to start paving more streets in Bruce in May and asked aldermen to turn in lists of streets they feel most in need and they’ll develop a master list from them.
Mayor Pope outlined a plan as prepared by Engineer Chodie Myers to repair a “bad spot” on Jimmy Beckley Road leading to Bruce Sweet Potato that may cost $18,000. The board unanimously approved the repair.
“We’ve had all kinds of problems with people dumping around town,” Mayor Pope said. “There’s no sense in that. If they brought that to the city shed we could properly dispose of it.”
Mayor Pope said he was going to have Attorney Jim Beckett draft an ordinance to fine people a significant amount for illegal dumping in town.
Other items approved by the board:
•Changed city policy to allow four months for sewer customers behind on their bill to catch up or it will be cut off.
•Bought new truck for street department on state contract price.
•Authorized 4K walk/run in Bruce benefiting Dallas Turner and family.
•Authorized Mike Campbell to work on grants for tennis court, soccer field, bike trail and possibly more in Bruce Park.
•Darryl Necaise was proposed as a new member for the Zoning Board of Adjustment. Aldermen wanted attorney Jim Beckett, who was absent, to provide input. Alderwoman Ellen Shaw said the ordinance requires zoning board members live in the city. Necaise owns a business in Bruce, but lives in Pittsboro.
•Set cleanup months for May and June with extra dumpsters available at city shed.
•Declared two trucks, a tractor, trencher, forklift as surplus property so they could be disposed of.
•Several complaints on odor from lagoon. Mayor Pope said city working to do all it can.
•Mayor Pope praised the Bruce, Blues & BBQ event and wants to make more improvements to theater.
•Mayor Pope asked board if it’s legal to have a pot-bellied pig in city. “One got out recently and ate someone’s flowers,” he said. Mayor Pope referenced a city ordinance that prohibits livestock, but asked the board if this pig would be considered a pet.
“I just mentioned it so you could be thinking about it,” Mayor Pope told the board.