Board eyes paving for town streets
Published 5:00 am Friday, May 5, 2006
WESSON – With several improvement projects on tap, townofficials say Wesson will undergo a “facelift” over the next fewmonths.
During the monthly meeting of the mayor and board of aldermenTuesday, discussions included a street paving project and a vehicleweight limit ordinance that will encompass much of the town.
“Hopefully, within the month, we will start the paving projectonce we accept bids,” said Mayor Alton Shaw, adding that the lowestbid should be approved in the next week to two weeks.
The road improvements, which include most of the main streets,will cost approximately $10,000 to $15,000, estimated Shaw.
Aldermen also plan on having a vehicle weight limit of 10,000lbs. enforced throughout Wesson. Exceptions would include Highway51, Sylvarena Road, Spring Street, Factory Street and Main Street,aldermen approved Tuesday.
“I talked to the engineers and basically, they said it was thetrucks that mess up (the paved roads),” said Shaw.
Board Attorney Dudley Lampton said the new ordinance must be onfile for public viewing for two weeks before the board can vote onit. Aldermen will vote on the ordinance at their next meeting.
Shaw also reported that work is expected to begin next week onthe north water tower, which will be repainted.
Aldermen also gave their approval of the town working with thechamber of commerce to welcome new residents. The chamber will beable to attain information about newcomers when they have theirwater turned on at a new residence.
“We want to send newcomers a welcome basket,” said AlderwomanLura Greer, speaking on behalf of the chamber.
In open discussion, town resident Debbie Box pointed out toaldermen the threat of pitbulls in her West Railroad Streetneighborhood.
“We’ve got a lot in our area, at least eight pitbulls,” saidBox. “We also have a lot of children in the area.”
Concern of pitbulls around children, adults and animals has beenheightened nationwide after a number of attacks were reported inrecent weeks.
“A new person moved into town and all of a sudden we have ablack pitbull that’s been showing up in our yard, attacking littledogs,” said Box.
Shaw said a leash law is in effect, but is hard to enforce dueto lack of a dog catcher.