Bridge at Red Banks opening in summer

Bridge at Red Banks opening in summer

By SUE WATSON
Staff Writer

The new Coldwater River Bridge on North Red Banks Road is expected to be completed soon, according to Larry Britt, county engineer.

The bridge has been under construction for close to a year. Britt did not say when he expects work to be finished, but he implied the job may be done this summer.

Since construction began, drivers have had to detour around the bridge on Red Banks Road, which carries the second highest traffic load among county roads with Cayce Road being the first, according to supervisor Keith Taylor.

In other road and bridge news, supervisors checked with Britt at the May 21 meeting on projects.

Britt said the county right of way obtained in the 1960s at old North Slayden Road and Highway 72 can be released back to the original landowners. The less than an acre of land can be released after a survey and legal description is made. The board of supervisors voted to declare the acreage surplus property to make way for the return of the property to the original owners.

Other State Aid Program (SAP) projects are on the go. Contractors are ready to start paving about 1.8 miles on Strickland Road this week. Paperwork is signed for the bridge replacement on Old Highway 7 South at Waterford. Bids will be opened June 4 for about a mile of overlay on Hernando Road.

County crews will do some road work on Odell Road as soon as rights-of-way are obtained from landowners. Two projects programmed for state aid to be worked in the 2008 budget include some overlay on South Red Banks from Highway 78 toward Lee’s Crossing Road and about two miles of overlay on Mt. Zion Road.

Improvements on Mason Road await closing on plans with DeSoto County.

Some dips at a box culvert on Wilson Golden Road where the road has settled were brought to Britt’s attention by supervisor Ronnie Joe Bennett.

“Most people think that wet winters are the cause, but drought is a big problem,” said Britt. “The ground starts to shrink.”

Supervisor Eddie Dixon drew attention to a steep curve near S. Slayden and Hogan roads.

“Several citizens are concerned about the danger of the curve,” he said. “A lot of people are moving in to South Slayden Farms and are not aware of how crooked that road is. They are driving too fast. It’s dangerous.”

In other business, the board of supervisors:

voted unanimously to deny an appeal by Dan Dotson to continue to operate a business out of his private home. A neighbor had complained to zoning about noise and the planning commission recommended that Dotson be ordered to move some vehicles and equipment off his 20 acres of property.

The vote to deny was led by supervisor George Zinn III, who said after hearing both sides of the complaint, it was his opinion not to overturn the planning commission’s decision.

“That’s what they are there for,” he said. “It’s been proven in the past it is not always in the best interest of the county board of supervisors to override zoning.”
discussed several lot clean-up orders and problems with owners junking up their property again after coming into compliance.
heard from chancery clerk Chuck Thomas that a 2006 audit report showed the county was in compliance on all standards.
received a county inventory report from Larry Hall. The county inventory stands at just over $128 million, he said.
approved changing Internet provider to Three Rivers Planning and Development District which will provide the service free to the county.
approved a seat belt ordinance that will require county employees to buckle up when driving county vehicles or operating any equipment that has seat belts installed. The ordinance meets requirement for insurability and also state law.
authorized expenditure of funds to buy narcotics dogs for the sheriff’s department.
approved a one-year paving contract with W.B. Contractors. Bronze Construction was approved as the alternate paving contractor.

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