For the third month in a row, Union Mayor Brad Capps has led a discussion about preventing 18-wheeled vehicles traveling on North St.
At last week’s October Board of Aldermen’s meeting, Capps unveiled a plan which he says will make it easier for drivers to know they can not make the turn off Highway 15 onto North St.
He said he has ordered a sign, 13 feet tall and straddling the road, which will alert drivers immediately that they can not use the north exit off of Highway 15 to deliver in Union.
“There’s no way they can miss this,” he said.
The Aldermen also voted to increase the fine for any trucks violating the no entrance sign from $250 to $500.
And, at the Mayor’s urging also included a provision that the trucks will be impounded and held until the fine is paid.
The aldermen added the impoundment practice despite a request from City Attorney Doug Smith to delay the action until he could research the issue.
“It’s never been about writing tickets,” said Capps, “it is about stopping the traffic. I hope we never have to write another ticket.”
Capps has contended all along that their never was adequate sign to prevent drivers who use a global positioning system to navigate the highway from making the north end turn.
He says the signs were so far off the highway that it was too late for the divers to turn the big rigs around,
Acting on the Mayor’s recommendation, in September the city placed a moratorium on writing any tickets until new signage could be put in pace.
In other business, the Aldermen
• Accepted Water Superintendent Jonathan Ferguson’s suggestion that they appropriate $37,000 to begin relocating a collapsed 6-inch sewer line that runs under the Ward’s Restaurant at 212 Jackson Road.
There is also a water line that will have to eventually be rerouted.
The restaurant was built on top of a water and a sewerage line in 1987. The sewerage line has collapsed but hasn’t shut completely down.
Previously Ferguson said the entire repair operation could cost somewhere between $60,000 and $100,000.
• Approved a request from Jordan Robinson to put a disc golf course in the city park.
Robinson said that with the help of staff members at East Central Community College there is now an 11-hole layout in place.
He said the Union Chamber of Commerce has taking on funding for the project and there would be no cost to the city.
Robinson said they would expect to have the course fully open and available by March of next year.
Capps said, “I’m 100% for it, and I think we should talk to residents on Park Street to see they have any reservations.”
• Capps said he received several complaints about the looks and condition of the city park.
He complimented the city crew for their recent improvements in the downtown minipark and said, “We started (with upgrades and improvements) in the middle of town and we’re going to work our way outwards.”
“We have four people on the city crew that do this and four people can only do so much.”
The city included an additional hire at the September meeting but the position has not yet been filled.
Capps said part of the problem with cleaning the trees and limbs in the city park were the recent rains and the men were unable to get in the area with the heavy equipment needed to do the cleanup.
• Appropriated $2,500 to relocate the police department breath intoxilyzer.
• Approved a request from Police Chief Billy Pat Walker that the city hire another officer.
