By John Howell
Batesville aldermen voted July 19 to authorize Tallahatchie Valley Electric Power Association (TVEPA) to add decorative street light fixtures on Eureka Street between Highway 6 and the Square and on Panola Avenue from the Square past the First Methodist Church.
“We’ve been working on this for five years and finally come up with something we could live with and that TVEPA can do. We don’t have to turn a screw or anything,” Alderman Stan Harrison said.
City Engineer Blake Mendrop told the mayor and aldermen that TVEPA would install the 42 fluted 14-foot light poles and lights for $2,000 monthly less credit for the monthly charge for the existing street lights that would be removed.
“I think determining that TVEPA would be the ones to do it was the only option,” Alderman Eddie Nabors said.
City officials at times have discussed purchasing, installing and maintaining city-owned light fixtures to avoid a monthly charge from TVEPA that continues as long as the poles are in place. The exterior light poles and fixtures at the Trussell Park walking trail were bought and installed by a city contractor.
“What they did, they compromised a little bit. They got us the best poles, the nicest poles, we’re not going to have to do anything,” Harrison said.
“I think this is the only way we can do it, because we don’t need to be in the lighting business,” Alderman Bill Dugger said.
“I want to thank y’all for that; that’s a real special deal for me,” Harrison said after aldermen Dugger, Nabors, Ted Stewart and Teddy Morrow joined him in the unanimous vote to accept the TVEPA proposal.
“We did it for the people of Batesville, but you can have some of it, too.” Dugger quipped.
“Any way you did it, I appreciate it, Harrison said.
In other business concerning Eureka Street, Mayor Jerry Autrey said that he is negotiating with the Mississippi Dept. of Transportation (MDOT) to mill and overlay the Eureka Street from the Square to Highway 6. In exchange, Autrey said, he will offer to accept that portion of Eureka as a city street to be maintained by the city in the future. The section of Eureka has been state-maintained since it was once part of a route followed by old Highway 51 as it exited the Square.
Aldermen voted unanimously to authorize the mayor to sign a $225,099 contract with Brocato Construction Co. for renovations on the east side of the Square, including widening and realigning the Eureka Street entrance to the Square, building planters in the mini-park and also in front of the east side buildings and installing decorative street lights.