Truck traffic, speeders highlight Council meeting
Most of the Demopolis City Council meeting Thursday centered around speeding vehicles, trucks not using their designated routes and possible ways to resolve the problems.
Eleanor Park said 47 people had signed a petition asking for relief from speeders along Main, Walnut and Strawberry Avenues, an issue which has been ongoing for years.
Park commended the Demopolis Police Department for what they have been able to do, but said the problem persists.
Aliquippa Allen then spoke on illegal truck traffic, especially on Walnut. She suggested installing warning signs that violators would be prosecuted and that both the trucking companies and drivers could be fined, but unless law enforcement is on the scene, there is little that can be done.
Allen also suggested installing a mobile camera that could be used throughout the city but admitted it would be expensive.
Mayor Woody Collins, pointing to the four DPD shift commanders attending the meeting, said he asked they be there to understand the concerns of residents and to assign officers along those routes whenever possible.
Allen also said GPS systems take drivers through Demopolis on Walnut instead of the Cedar-Capitol route. Collins asked if Allen would investigate how to change the GPS system; she countered by saying she would if the city would install a warning sign to truckers.
Collins said an agreement among the city, Wallace Community College and Whitfield Regional Hospital has made it possible for COVID-19 vaccinations to be done in the old National Guard Armory on U.S. Hwy. 43 S. He thanked Councilman Charles Jones Jr. for working with the groups to set up the site.
The first vaccinations for those 75 years of age and older were done at the Fitz-Gerald Clinic, but logistics to set up and break down the site were extensive. Using the old armory allows the medical personal to leave everything in place.
After the meeting Doug Brewer, CEO/Administrator of WRH, said students with the UWA School of Nursing will be working at the vaccination site.
Audrey Freeman with Avenu Insights & Analytics presented a proposal to the Council for her firm to collect taxes and license fees. She estimates the city could save almost $50,000 over current charges. She also proposed a Discover/Recovery plan to collect fees from businesses who set up in Demopolis but never paid for a license.
The Finance Council will take up the proposals at its next meeting and present a recommendation at the next Council meeting.
Bobby Kemp with Goodwyn, Mills and Cawood discussed plans for the second phase of the city’s repaving program and the current status of the CDBG funds for further paving.
The Council appointed WRH administrator Brewer to the Industrial Development Board. Rance Stevenson was appointed to the Park and Recreation Board, and Seth Allgood was reappointed.
When Richard Fountain again appeared before the Council to talk about the issues with the ditch behind his house on Ash Street, Collins forestalled him by saying two of the three issues Fountain had been complaining about for 26 years have been resolved since the new Council was seated in November. The third is undergoing study.
Councilman Bill Meador expressed concern about underaged drivers taking golf carts on city streets. He also reminded golf cart owners to renew cart tags Feb 5 or Feb. 13.
Councilman Bob McCants reminded drivers of the trash ordinances passed to reduce trash on city streets. “We’ve got to stop it.”