Thursday, March 15, 2007
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Thursday, March 15, 2007 |
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Community | Obits | Editorial & Columnists | Society | Sports | Education | Classified Ads | Calendar of Events | Features | Newsbriefs | Legals | Archives | Subscriptions | Photo Gallery |
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City to push for cleanup of dilapidated structures By SUE WATSON The Holly Springs Department of Public Works is seeking to condemn seven dilapidated houses in the city that pose safety risks. Don Hollingsworth, public works director, notified the mayor and board of aldermen last week that condemnation procedures will be processed for two houses on West Street, three on Park Avenue and two on West Valley Street. The identified properties were turned over to city attorney Ki Jones to process. Aldermen also heard department heads clarify the procedures for enforcing junk car ordinances following the impounding of a vehicle up on blocks on McMillan Drive. Hollingsworth added that code enforcement will be checking for junk cars that are not tagged. Chief Robert Pearson said the impounding of vehicles obstructing traffic can be done immediately but the normal procedure for towing a vehicle not obstructing traffic provides time for the owner to remove it. “If it is in traffic we can impound immediately, but if it is not obstructing traffic, we give 48 hours notice,” he said. Pearson said calls regarding vehicles obstructing traffic should be made to a supervisor, not one of the office clerks. Hollingsworth suggested the city could help with removal of junk vehicles from properties - old vehicles that have been left to a widow who does not have the means to remove them, for example. “The city would offer to haul it free to a junk crusher,” he said. “Why don’t we just get the junk man to do it?” asked alderman Nancy Hutchens. “We need to do something,” Hollingsworth said. “We need to do something and allow the person to call a salvage company,” DeBerry said. “People are getting stuck with stuff left by a dead relative,” Hollingsworth said. Alderman Tim Liddy asked how public works becomes aware of the specific problems. “Do our other city employees refer things to you?” he asked Hollingsworth. Mayor DeBerry responded that police patrols are asked to notice things like dead street lights and damaged fire plugs and report them to public works. In utility department matters, general manager John Collins reported that TVA will add a fuel cost adjustment but projects that fuel prices will roll back. When they do the fuel adjustment fee will be taken off. A pass through fee of between 80 cents and $1.25 will be levied for every 1000 kilowatt hours metered, Collins said. In Coldwater Substation construction matters, Collins said the Siemens company was recommended by Mid-South Utility Consultants to build the transformer at a cost of $677,000. The company offered the best transformer at the lowest price, he said. The pond at the substation site in Mt. Pleasant is posing a problem and engineers want to drain the pond and take it out. Collins said the utility department will contact residents about the removal of the pond. The substation site proper will be leveled off and a fence will be erected around the site in the near future. Collins said the utility will consult with the neighboring residents on what type of landscaping they would like installed as a buffer. He said weeping hedge is one consideration because of the way it grows. “We are going to do our best to work with neighbors and still do our work,” he said. In other business, the board appointed Betty Carol Wittjen to the Holly Springs Tourism Bureau board of directors. Wittjen will replace outgoing Mike Lynn. The board also approved the hiring of one full-time career firefighter. Report News:
(662) 252-4261 or south@dixie-net.com
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