City Manager holds citizen Q and A

Americus City Manager Diadra Powell held a citizen’s question and answer on July 29 at 12 noon. Yorka Ralwins, owner of the Spot, brought concerns about right of way on an alley that is claimed by a property owner near her restaurant. Ralwins claimed the property fell under public access, but that the property owners in question had blocked it off. Powell mentioned the property owners would need to be a part of the conversation.

Kimberly Baker, a new property owner on Cotton Avenue, brought concerns about the conditions of Cotton Avenue. Powell responded: “If it is a sidewalk and there is something that needs to be repaired, or if the weeds or the trees are overgrown, those are things that if it’s in our right away, we can certainly take care of so our public works director has made note of that as well and we will certainly make sure that we get that taken care of.”

Baker also inquired whether there was any consideration of opening the old high school as a community center. Powell mentioned issues with funding.

The Americus Times Recorder asked about the condition of power poles that might pose threats to citizens, and whether the City could take any action against the power company. Public works director Georgia Allen responded. “Any citizen can go on their website and put in a work order, if they notice anything related to their facilities.” He mentioned that he would alert the public works department to be aware of issues. “And from public work’s perspective, we’ll go ahead and put a work order in. All of their facilities are private, and the most we can do is notify them about it, and most times they respond pretty well.”

Bethany Greeley brought up issues with Downtown Americus Mainstreet maps being outdated.

Ralwins asked about pressure washing sidewalks if no further repairs could be accomplished. Powell responded; “There’s probably some changes coming. We’ve applied for several different types of funding.” She mentioned that she could not yet confirm.

Herschel Smith, president of Kiwanis, brought concerns about large trucks traveling through the downtown. “Several years ago, we spent almost $20 million on a bypass for trucks. And so it’s all been completed. It’s been reinforced to 40 tons.” He mentioned issues with trucks have persisted. “I’ve almost been clobbered by an 18-wheeler.”

Smith mentioned a solution. “And what you need to do is you need to coordinate the City and. . . GDOT to have signs put in the City that say truck route and which way to go so that we can get these trucks away from the middle of town, making noise, the vibration, but mostly the safety issue, rushing to make a light and things like that.”

He summed up his perspective. “The County’s done their job. Now’s the time for the City to do their job and direct the trucks to the truck route.”

Powell responded that they could have a conversation with Mayor and Council. She also commented on the truck drivers; “they’re probably not even concerned about the signs. They are going to drive the shortest route to the destination.” She also mentioned local deliveries would still be an issue even if through-traffic was eliminated. Powell commented on the City’s perspective. “We don’t know if they are through traffic or traffic for a business.”

The streets in question are State highways, preventing local fines for through traffic. When asked by the ATR if the City could coordinate with the Georgia Department of Transportation in order to prevent through traffic, Powell replied; “I believe we have asked and I don’t know if we have gotten responses or not.”

For other topics discussed during the meeting, see Stormwater discussed during city manager’s meeting.

The post City Manager holds citizen Q and A appeared first on Americus Times-Recorder .