Rockford Council mostly discussion
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By Christa Jennings
Senior Staff Writer
Last Tuesday evening’s Rockford Town Council meeting primarily consisted of discussion and information, with little action being taken apart from tabling some items.
With all members present, the only action item approved was in regards to a portion of the Rockford Event Center.
Mayor Scott White mentioned that in the past the town put a new roof on the front part of the old gym where the concession stand area is because it was leaking. He stated that the week prior to the meeting he noticed the back portion of the boys locker room and girls locker room is now leaking.
In further discussion he stated that the town stores decorations and other items in that area, but that he was going to also utilize the area as a safe room “because the town has been concerned and [he’s] concerned about tornadoes and things coming through.”
He added that they have cleared out the former boys locker room to “put in a safe room.” He said they will have to do some cleaning and painting to get it ready.
White explained that the town previously only put a new roof on the concession stand area because it was so bad there. He added that was about $7,500 to do the front portion, which was less than the $15,000 bid law.
White said that he would get a quote from the individual who put the roof on previously, as well as a couple other people. He estimated that it would cost about $9,000 to put a new roof on the back portion of the Event Center.
After brief discussion, the council unanimously approved moving forward with getting cost estimates for the roof project.
Also during last Tuesday evening’s meeting, the council discussed road issues in town, particularly Adam and Hill streets.
Councilmember Nieshia Whetstone was on the agenda to discuss road issues with Adam Street, and she mentioned road damage from the April 2020 storms that came about when a large fallen tree “busted up” the road. She mentioned that two different trees hit two different roads in the area, Adam Street and Hill Street.
Whetstone said that the road has been patched up, but that it is washing away and needs to be fixed. White said that the town has used crusher run to help patch the road, but that heavy rains cause issues, and it does not hold up well.
He added that the roads have not been paved in more than 30 years, but that the town is doing as much maintenance as it can. He said the driveways are also washing down and causing rocks to go into the roads, as well.
White further stated that Gary Ingram Grading & Paving will be repaving County Road 18, and he asked them for a price for providing cold patch asphalt since they will be in town already, which would reduce the delivery fee. He said that the cold patch would still eventually wash away, but that it would “a lot better” and longer than the crusher run.
In discussing finances for such projects, White said that once the County Road 18 paving project comes out of the town’s road and bridge fund then the town will probably only have about $50,000 left in the account. He said that the town only receives about $5,900 a month towards roads.
He explained that the town is paying $212,000 for paving 0.8 miles of road, illustrating that it takes a good bit of funding to get any roadwork done, and with as little as the town gets it does not take long to deplete it, but takes a long time to build it back up, with it taking nearly three years’ worth of funding to pave less than a mile of road.
White stated that they are “basically doing the best we can and will do the best we can.”
Councilmember Robert Smith stated that it does not matter what the town puts on the road, because if they do not do something with the water run off then it is going to just wash away. White said that he is looking into and trying to get funds for the water run off issues in town, as well.
It was mentioned that Whetstone is ultimately asking for those roads to be paved. When asked how long the road is, Smith estimated that it is about 300 yards, with others commenting it is not a long road.
In ongoing discussion, White mentioned that he did not know where the town would get the money, adding that it would probably be about $70,000 to pave Adam Street.
He further stated that the town has to fix the water issue before paving the road or it won’t do any good, saying that nothing will hold up if they do not fix the water issue.
Whetstone made a motion to go forward with paving Adam Street, and Councilmember Cordarius Lee seconded the motion.
Councilmember Lynn Anne Castleberry expressed a hesitancy to vote on the paving project, stating that they still need to fix the water issue “before worrying about the paving part.”
Smith said that he wanted to go look at the road before voting on it.
White said that the biggest thing that worried him was that the town does not have the funds to actually pay to pave the road.
In ongoing discussion, Smith said, “I’d like to have my road paved. It’s got potholes in it, too. But I think if we get the money to pave roads and fix roads, we should fix them where it would do the most good for everybody. My road is just as bad as anybody’s.”
He further mentioned an issue with water running off one street, across a yard and almost flooding into a house on Washington Street during times of heavy rain, adding, “That needs to be fixed.”
Smith also mentioned “the road between the case and church,” or Nixburg Road, having a hole in the side of the road where a culvert has already collapsed.
“I’m not against paving every road in town – yours, mine, everybody’s,” he said.
Town attorney Tom Young stated that it is the intent of the Town Council to pave as many of the roads, including Adam Street, as it can within the town.
“That’s overall under the umbrella of everything we want to do,” Young said. “Until we solve certain issues, I don’t know how we get into other projects until that’s done. On top of that, we don’t have the money to do it right now.”
Castleberry said that she would be more comfortable tabling the matter so that those who wish to could go look at the road and to give White more time to look into possible funding avenues to help with the water run off issues.
Smith said that in the end they need to look at every road in town and that if Adam Street is the worst street then he thinks it should be the first one addressed, “regardless of who lives on it or anything, whether it be one house or 10 houses on it.”
White said they had the same issue on another road with the same 2020 storm resulting in a tree falling on a house, pulling away from the road and leaving “a big hole.” He said the town filled it in, but that it is already washed out again because there is “just too much water running off.”
In further discussion, White said that Gary Ingram Grading & Paving will come pave County Road 18 once it is finished with the U.S. Highway 231 paving project. The company will then bring the cold patch material, which the town is purchasing, and the town will put the cold patch in itself.
White also stated that gravel from driveways is washing down and also causing issues. He further said that is from private property driveways washing down and asked, “If we’re going to start doing this and putting stuff in there, are they going to be able to help with their end of it?”
When White asked Whetstone who had asked her to come to the meeting regarding the issue of paving Adam Street, she said it was Fred Lee.
White also asked attorney Young what the town needs to do to move forward with it. Young said that he would table the issue so the council members who want to can go look at it. He added that the town needs to figure out a way to deal with the water run off, as well.
“I want Adam Street and every other street to be paved, but with only $5,900 a month, $60,000 a year, we just spent four years’ worth paving 0.8 miles,” Young said. “We’re going to have to figure out some phased way of doing this. Take the roads and go look at them, or roads in worse condition, so you can do this in an organized phased way. Some people will be further down the list than they want to be.”
In ongoing discussion the council and Young mentioned getting a list of the town’s roads, looking at them and reviewing all roads in town. Castleberry further said that they need to get a list of roads and prioritize them for future projects.
Castleberry also asked about the grant awarded to the town to pave the streets around the courthouse, whether that is an annual opportunity for which the town can apply.
White said that he thinks it will be, but added that “the problem with that grant is it’s a Rebuild Alabama grant, and it goes by how much usage you have on the streets. That’s why that was funded, because there is so much traffic around the courthouse and those areas. I’m thankful we got it because we’re fixing to have four roads paved this year.”
Regarding Adam Street, Castleberry said, “I think the answer is yes it can be done, but not quickly. It’s going to have to be a process. We need to solve the water problem first.”
After much discussion and being reminded that there was a motion and a second on the table with a vote that needed to be finished, White asked for a vote of all those in favor and all those opposed to Whetstone’s initial motion to move forward with paving Adam Street.
At that time, Smith, Castleberry and Councilmember Shirley Ogle opposed the motion, and the motion failed with a vote of 2-3.
Castleberry then proceeded to make a motion to table the decision to pave Adam Street until further investigation. Smith seconded the motion, and it was unanimously approved.
In other business related to roads, White shared some information regarding the grant Castleberry had mentioned in prior discussion.
He stated that the town had applied for $224,710 in Rebuild Alabama funds to pave Jackson Street and School Street, “circle around the courthouse and down to the park.” He said the town was awarded those grant funds.
“I’m thankful for that and will continue to apply for grants as they come available to fix these roads,” he said.
White said that with these grant funds and the previously approved projects, resurfacing of the following roads will be completed by the end of this year: Nixburg Road to Communication Drive, County Road 18 to Spring Street, Jackson Street to Alabama Highway 22, and School Street to U.S. Highway 231.
In other business, White said there were three ordinances that need to be amended because of outdated language needing to be updated. He said that the council would have to obtain immediate consideration of the three ordinances brought forth that night, which would require a unanimous roll call vote.
However, the roll call vote failed to pass unanimously as it had a 3-2 vote, with Whetstone and Lee opposing the action that would have resulted in the council reviewing the ordinances that night.
As such, Castleberry then made a motion to table the ordinances to the next meeting, at which time they will then be voted on, and this was unanimously approved.
Also during last week’s meeting, Police Chief George Fanning said that every month he is going to start providing a report to the council with updates on what the Police Department has done each month.
Fanning proceeded to review the department’s statistics for the month, stating that from the March council meeting to Sunday, April 23, the department answered 22 calls for service, assisted eight citizens, made 43 traffic stops, wrote 30 citations, gave 23 warning and 11 verbal warning, made four arrests, completed three incident reports, worked two motor vehicle accidents, and conducted 151 business checks.
Regarding citations, Fanning said the highest citation was for some driving 73 mph in a 35 mph zone on Highway 231 by Ash Street, near the 4-way stop, with the driver traveling southbound.
Fanning further said that they have “a lot of speeding,” stating that the citations included five insurance violations and assorted violations “like that,” but that the majority of them are for speeding.
Following some discussion with the council, Fanning said that he will have part-time police officer Brent Overton at the next meeting to formally meet the council.
The next regularly scheduled monthly meeting of the Rockford Town Council will be held at 6 p.m. May 16.
