Council continues to tweak downtown revitalization project
PROTECTED CONTENT
If you’re a current subscriber, log in below. If you would like to subscribe, please click the subscribe tab above.
Username and Password Help
Please enter your email and we will send you a password reset link.
By BETH ZUMWALT
The Pittsfield City Council continues to tweak the downtown revitalization project scheduled to begin later this year.
At the Jan. 7 meeting, the council discussed adding a sound system, where music could be played throughout the downtown, during parades, announcements made and other uses.
“It would be $11,000 if we did it now and a lot more if we wait to add it later,” Gary Mendenhall, mayor, said. “It is not in the scope of original job, but, putting in the wiring during the revitalization project makes sense,”
The council approved the installation.
The second addition to the project would be electric charging stations for electric cars. Currently there are only two in Pittsfield, one at the hospital and one at John Wood Community College.
“We would get a small percentage from the sales,” Mendenhall said. “The closer we could put it to the main panel the cheaper it would be.”
The main panel is expected to be somewhere in the alleys behind city hall.
The council voted to continue research into the matter with all aldermen voting Yes, except Robert Ritchardt, who voted No. Beth White, alderwoman from Ward II was absent.
Richardt said he didn’t feel the electric car movement would gain traction, especially in this area.
The council also said they would be inviting Jill Street property owners whose property floods in heavy rains to a meeting soon. The council has decided to offer property owners 75 percent reimbursement, up to $5,000 for remedies they take to alleviate flooding.
The council will also continue to explore options to re-route Honey Creek, the source of the flooding or to find another solution to the problem, which has existed for several years.
It was also reported one of the city’s trucks used for removing snow, completely burned Tuesday, Jan. 7 while blading snow at the airport.
The council also discussed new building codes as required by law. The city’s current code is dated 2009 and it is required to be within three years.
City Attorney Keisha Morris said they new adaption would not be too different than the 2009 version.
Mendenhall said he did not want any new regulations to stifle new construction. The new code supposedly addresses sprinkler usage and head counts on maximum occupancy.
“It’s guide not a bible,” Kevin Wombles, alderman said.
