“It’s something that is really needed,” said Mayor Bill Hereford.
The council unanimously approved the contract agreement. ALDOT will install the new left turn signals at the intersection of U.S. 231 and 9th Avenue North.
“As that school continues to grow, anything to help traffic move in an orderly way is good,” said Michael Barber, assistant superintendent of Pell City schools. “I think it’s a good plan.”
He said officials are looking toward to the future as the school system and Iola Roberts Elementary School continues to grow.
Barber, who once served as the Iola Roberts Elementary School principal, said he remembers a couple of accidents involving parents trying to turn left at that intersection to pick up their children when he was principal at the school.
“I knew they (ALDOT) had done a study,” he said.
Iola Roberts Elementary School was recently renovated and new classrooms were added to the school to accommodate future growth.
Barber said the elementary school has more than 400 students enrolled now.
“It is not only about getting traffic onto school property, but it’s about getting traffic out as well,” he said. “I know there was a lot of support for this (the turn signals).”
In other matters at council meeting, the council:
• Approved to adjust bills for 52 water customers who continue to receive discolored water.
• Approved a 60 day extension to complete the renovation of a house owned by Joe Wheeler at 1403 23rd Street South, which was considered for condemnation.
• Approved an off premise beer and wine license for Pell City Friendly Stop at 78 Cogswell Avenue.
• Approved three ordinances to help stimulate residential construction inside the city.
• Approved the General Fund and Utility Fund budgets.
• Appointed Councilwoman Dot Wood as the Mayor ProTem, after the former Mayor ProTem Greg Gossett resigned from the council. Councilman Donnie Guinn was the lone council member to vote against the appointment, saying he thought there was a better, more experienced person on the council for the Mayor ProTem position, Councilman James McGowan.
• Approved to allow the mayor to negotiate a contract with a local television station to put a weather camera on the city’s water tank, off Alabama 34. The city will supply the electricity, and the television station is responsible for the installation and maintenance of the camera.
Contact David Atchison at datchison@dailyhome.com
