Highway 311 residents want answers

Some residents off Highway 311, who applied for gas and water service from the City of Holly Springs over a decade ago, appeared before the Mayor and Board of Aldermen to ask why they were left out of a water and gas expansion project.

They said they signed up for the service but the project stopped at Strawberry Plains Audubon Center, short of their properties.

Velma Isom, Barbara Beard and Audrey Luellen spoke for those residents who put down deposits but failed to get service during construction.

“We didn’t get gas and we can’t afford to put gas in our tanks,” Luellen said. “We don’t have water or gas. We talked to you when you (Mayor Gipson) were an alderman.”

Velma Isom said 13 years have passed since they paid deposits for gas and water lines to run to their properties.

“We pay city and county taxes,” Isom said. “Who is our supervisor out there?” Mayor Sharon Gipson offered a reply.

“One thing, Ms. Luellen mentioned our gas department,” Gipson said. “We have to take into consideration the cost. Looking at what the cost would be...just be patient and prayerful. I do remember a conversation you paid the $25 fee. Some residents received it and you were left out.”

Gipson asked the ladies to keep checking back in with her on the project and said, “The squeaky wheel gets the oil.”

Teresa Dobbs was back before the Mayor and Board of Aldermen saying speed bumps have not been installed on East Elder Avenue.

“They are still flying down the street,” she said.

Gipson replied, “We are looking at that. We didn’t get it this time. You will be on the list next time.” Dobbs has reported the narrow section of East Elder is dangerous with motorists racing down the street like it is a race track. It is dangerous for both children, pets and adults, she has said.

IT director Derrick Jefferson presented an updated version of a proposal to get AT&T fiber optic service for the city and the utility department. He said he had nothing else to add to the proposal.

The Holly Springs Utility Department currently has MaxxSouth service. AT&T would offer more dependable service because the fiber is mostly buried, where as MaxxSouth is attached to utility poles.

“Everything (we have) now is aerial,” Jefferson said.

Resident Jim Smith returned to the three minute public comment platform to discuss the city’s sidewalks, which he alleged were not ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) compliant. He added prior questions alleging his utility rates are not correct have not been addressed. He added to that the Compress Building site at the Depot District is overgrown and water is still leaking there for two years and flowing down the middle of East College Avenue.

He said he sees no plan for improvement of city services.

“I wonder what my taxes are being used for?” he asked, saying his mother has poor eyesight and there are no landings on the sidewalks for the handicapped.

“You left a huge pond of water on my property,” he said to the mayor. “I sit here and hear about people being suspended, who resigned. “I think everyone should resign and start over.”

In other business, the board of aldermen:

• approved payment of $108,018 to the Holly Springs School District for the April 2023 tax settlement.

• authorized payment of $69,439 for pay application #3 to AHS Construction for work on the city’s wastewater collection system. The board also authorized payment of $84,925 for the city’s remaining in-kind work on the Springs Industrial Park Road, a joint county/city project.

• approved a payment of $106,210 to Fifer and Associates for pay application #2 for renovation and additions to the Holly Springs Fire Station.