The Bruce town board approved a bid for repair and paving on Jimmy Beckley Drive and heard a request for paving in “Spratlin Subdivision.”
Lori Longest and a host of residents from Spratlin Subdivision asked the board to consider repaving the streets in their neighborhood.
“We understand you pave as you can, but we would like to be considered,” Longest said.
She presented a list of priority areas to the board citing Woodson as the worst in their neighborhood.
Bruce Mayor Rudy Pope
Longest noted the neighborhood is a popular place for walkers and bike riders from all over town to come but lately they’ve had to do a lot of “weaving” due to the conditions of the streets.
“I’m not sure we’ll do any more paving this year,” Mayor Rudy Pope said. “We have only $50,000 in the budget right now and that won’t go very far. So we may wait until next year where we can get $100,000 or more to do more paving.”
Alderwoman Ellen Shaw also pointed out state law prohibits the board from being able to spend all of their available budget due to it being an election year as they are required to leave a certain percentage for the new administration.
Mayor Pope explained all of the current board is unopposed in this year’s election and will all be returning to office, but that doesn’t change the law.
The board approved a low bid of $117,291 from B&B Construction for the Jimmy Beckley overlay project. This will address the area where Jimmy Beckley intersects with South McSweyne.
Mayor Pope said he is worried about trucks being able to make the turn on South McSweyne as a detour while construction is ongoing. He said he would talk to Bruce Sweet Potato owner Marshall Bailey about an alternative route for his trucks.
Other news from meeting:
•Mayor Pope said they didn’t receive any bids on the old fire truck pumper. Fire Chief Charlie Hill said it needs a lot of work but he’ll check with other departments in the county and see if any want it.
•Chief Hill reported the town’s fire trucks are scheduled to run out of certification in 2019 and 2020 and it often takes a year to get a truck. He said most trucks average $250,000. Mayor Pope encouraged the board to begin making plans for payments in the new budget because they’ll likely have to buy two new trucks.
•Board set May as cleanup month where extra dumpsters will be available at the city shed on Hwy. 9 for the public to access from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday and for half a day on Saturdays.
•Board reimbursed Judge Ben Suber $35 for a chair he bought for courtroom.
•Board agreed to purchase 50 county and City of Bruce maps for public distribution for $365.
•Transferred a Freightliner and 1999 Dodge 3/4 ton truck to county district two.
•Meeting closed with board entering executive session to discuss “personnel.”