By John Howell
Aldermen told City Engineer Blake Mendrop to move ahead with a project to place raised crosswalks on the Batesville Square at the Panola Avenue entrance, across from Stubbs and further north on Panola Avenue between the Methodist and Baptist churches.
“It’s not like speed bumps,” said Alderman Stan Harrison. Harrison said that he wanted crosswalks similar to one in front of the Ford Center at the University of Mississippi in Oxford.
“It goes up and over and down where you can go over it at five or ten miles an hour,” Harrison said.
Alderman Eddie Nabors provided photos to The Panolian showing crosswalks in Tupelo, Madison and Kosciusko.
“They have a brick pattern which is what I have been pushing, but not only on Panola. I would like to see these downtown as well,” Nabors stated in a message accompanying the photos.
In other business during the August 2 meeting:
• Aldermen approved Police Chief Tony Jones’ request to assign a city police officer to the federal Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) in Oxford;
• Aldermen voted 4 to 0 (Alderman Teddy Morrow had briefly stepped out of the meeting during the discussion and vote) to accept an agreement from Hotophia Water Association to provide water to city water customers on the south side of the bridge near Lawrence Brothers just south of Highway 6 East.
The county’s replacement project for the bridge has required that the city move its water line that crosses Hotophia Creek. Aldermen, during their July 19 meeting received quotes for the cost for boring under the creek to create a new route for the water line. The quotes were taken under advisement;
• After discussion with City Water and Sewer Superintendent Mike Ross aldermen approved extending its water line to the Larry Montgomery property between Tiger Drive and Oak Ridge Lane. Montgomery had requested the city water to replace the water provided by a private well. The unanimous vote provides for a two-inch diameter line, sufficient, Ross said to provide adequate water pressure for current use and for a limited increased future demand. The two-inch line would not provide sufficient pressure for a fire hydrant, Ross said.