Monday's Internet Edition, January 05, 2009.
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The state Division of Highways has announced plans to build a sidewalk this year along Williams Drive in Spencer. The busy street has been the scene of at least two accidents involving pedestrians, including one fatality.
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Editor - A city street that has seen two major accidents involving pedestrians, including one fatality, will finally receive a sidewalk.
The state Division of Highways will fund and construct a sidewalk along Williams Drive this year, Spencer Mayor Terry Williams told city council members Cecil Banks, David Holland and Pat Lance during a Tuesday evening meeting at the municipal building. Councilmen Toby Ford and Don Williams did not attend.
The mayor said he expected the work to be done sometime this summer.
“It’s a big deal,” Williams said. “(The DOH) has been real cooperative.”
The street is maintained by the DOH. It leads to a youth softball field as well as businesses including Wal-Mart and Roane Family Health Care’s clinic. A new Tudor’s/Gino’s Restaurant will be built on property across from the softball field.
A woman was struck and killed several years ago as she was walking along Williams Drive. Later, a young girl was injured when a vehicle hit her as she was crossing the street to get to the softball field.
Williams said the plans include adding a sidewalk to one side of an existing bridge. The new sidewalk could also tie in with a sidewalk planned as part of the proposed renovation of the Ruby Bradley Bridge. Williams Drive could also be widened as part of the project, the mayor said.
The DOH is also planning to replace the bridge that carries Market Street over Spring Creek to Front Street. The new two-lane bridge with sidewalks would replace the current single-lane span.
Williams said the project was on the fast track and could be ready for construction in July. The work would impact the Bowman Street parking lot, where a temporary bridge would be accessed, and possibly force the W.Va. Black Walnut Festival carnival to be relocated. Williams said the carnival could be moved to the city’s main parking plaza.
In another matter, council approved an annual agreement with the Walter H. Drane Co. of Cleveland to provide a supplement to city code. The company recently completed a revision of the code that Williams said cost approximately $12,000.
The agreement is for five years and will cost the city $700 annually for editorial services and additional fees for any revisions. Williams said the city would provide revisions or additions at the end of each calendar year.
The agreement is automatically renewable after five years with adjusted prices.
Council also:
• Learned that no date had been scheduled as of yet for the annual citywide cleanup. Williams said he hoped it would take place later this month.
• Learned that city water department employees had fixed a major leak in the Reedy system at Randolph Road the week before. Projects manager Rob Miller said close to 300,000 gallons had been lost by the Spencer system. The Reedy department was unable to locate and repair the leak, Miller said, which was not reported to Spencer until eight hours after the problem was noticed. Williams said Reedy would be billed for the work.
• Presented a certificate of appreciation to Gary Williams upon his retirement as police chief. The city had a dinner in his honor before the meeting.
• Reviewed a list of activities planned as part of a continuing celebration of the city’s sesquicentennial. Events include a Friday, April 18 style show at the Spencer Antique Mall, a veterans’ prayer breakfast on Friday, May 23, a downtown concert on Saturday, June 7 and an antique car cruise-in on Saturday, July 12.
• Adjourned until meeting Tuesday, April 15 at noon to lay the levy. The meeting will coincide with a Spencer Development Authority meeting. The next regular council meeting will be Thursday, May 1 at 6 p.m.
