WAFF.com: North Alabama News, Radar, Weather, Sports and Jobs-Decatur council cuts road projects
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By Bobby Shuttleworth - Bio | Email
Posted by Dana Franks - Email
DECATUR, AL (WAFF) - The city of Decatur will be spending 15 percent less than originally planned on road resurfacing projects. On Thursday, one councilman voted against the entire proposal because he felt like his district was being short-changed.
Some roads in Decatur are in desperate need of repair. But the funding just isn't there, according to City Council President Greg Reeves.
"We requested $5.5 million. The area received $1.8 million and of that we received $1.2 million."
So which roads will make the cut? Reeves said the roads will be chosen by city engineers.
"Country Club Road for one is going to be resurfaced, and parts of Danville Road," Reeves said. "Danville is a very long road."
Billy Jackson's vote was the only "no" vote on the proposal. He said that's because he feels his district is getting the short end of the stick.
"In 2001, we accepted maintenance and ownership of Moulton Street," Jackson told WAFF 48 News. "At that particular time, the state came through and said, 'We'll resurface it one more time.'" They did resurface it, but they didn't mill it, so every time we have a minimal amount of rain, we have great deal of flooding on Moulton Street."
Jackson said Moulton is heavily traveled and impacts a lot of people. Also in his district are potholes which have been patched but not resurfaced.
Reeves said he understands the frustration.
"Do I wish we had more? Yes. Am I thankful for what we received? Yes. Will everybody be happy? No. But we're doing the best we can with what we have," he said.
Jackson disagreed.
"Yeah, we're being shut out," he said. "But that's back to the way things were done in the past. And I think it's politics, that's deal with it."
The projects are being administered by the Alabama Department of Transportation.
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C'mon, play. You know you want to. The boss will never know.
