Sunday's Internet Edition, May 11, 2008.
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With more than dozen concerned citizens in attendance, city officials answered questions pertaining to Valley Road Bridge, traffic problems and received a “thank you” from a couple of citizens for not lifting voluntary water restrictions Monday night at its monthly meeting.
Dr. George Highsmith, who lives near the bridge located in the Huntsford Hills community, asked the first question from the audience. An outspoken resident, Highsmith questioned the status of the matter.
The bridge received an “under 50” rating two years ago, making it eligible for federal funds. The issue has come in front of City Council numerous times. At its most recent meeting on Monday, City Council decided to wait until the town hall meeting for citizen feedback on whether to award more than $74,000 to Wetherill Engineering for a study of the bridge.
Another Huntsford Hills resident, Jim Gay, said he was worried if a new bridge would become a thoroughfare in his neighborhood. Many residents, including Gay, said unwanted traffic is already a problem in the neighborhood.
“We have car carriers that go across that bridge, even though it says a 11-ton restriction,” Gay said. “We have tractor-trailers go through there. We have a massive amount of automobiles that go through there.”
Dr. Michael Brodar, of Huntsford Hills, said he doesn’t want a new bridge, but sees the need to preserve it.
Residents of Huntsford Hills also expressed concern in regard to traffic coming off of Business 85 into the community. Thomasville Police Chief Ronald S. Bratton presented a resolution of making the road exiting Huntsford Hills one way, and his solution was well received.
“I’m sort of getting the grasp on the situation here that you really want to prioritize the rehab, maintenance on the bridge and address the traffic issue,” said City Manager Kelly Craver, who served as the facilitator for the town hall meeting.
City Council will vote on awarding the study to Wetherill at its May monthly meeting.
The Town Hall Meeting allowed residents to address matters to not only City Council members, but also department heads, such as Bratton, City Engineer Bryan Fulbright and Fire Chief Martin Dailey.
“Thank you for inviting us all,” Gay said to the City Council. “By the way, I wouldn’t want your job for anything.”
At its city council retreat early in the year, City Council members said they wanted better communication with residents, so they came up with the idea of occasionally having town hall meetings in different parts of Thomasville.
“Hearing from our citizens is the way we carry on business in doing the best for the community,” Mayor Joe Bennett said.
Staff Writer Darrick Ignasiak can be reached at 472-9500, ext. 231, or ignasiak@tvilletimes.com