Mayor David O’Mary discussed to members of the Jasper City Council a major project by the Alabama Department of Transportation to happen in the city in the near future.
“You approved some time ago our participation in a major traffic management project to be conducted by ALDOT. It’s a project moving along, and what we know today is that it will end up being part of a much larger project up and down Highway 118,” O’Mary said.
The initial project consisted of access management improvements, including turning lanes on the north end of Jones Dairy Road where it intersects with Highway 69 and continuing to Highway 118. Some changes have been made to that initial project, O’Mary explained, needing a vote by the council to approve and allow the mayor to enter into a supplemental agreement with ALDOT, which was approved during their March 19 meeting.
O’Mary said ALDOT has notified the city of a larger project the work will tie into, which will be done unilaterally. It will include new traffic lights as well as replacing the bridge on 9th Avenue that crosses Highway 118.
“ALDOT has notified us they will replace nine red lights along Highway 188,” he said. It’s a more sophisticated traffic management system than we have today. ALDOT monitors traffic flow and it’s grown significantly,” he said. “The bridge that crosses 118 by Son’s is going to be replaced by ALDOT. The letting was going to take place in early April. The reconfiguring of the electrical lines in that area has become more complex than they thought. That will delay the letting of that, but that’s still on. It is a much needed project.”
In other action, the council:
- Set a public hearing for its next meeting on April 4 to discuss possible economic incentives for a development that will bring three nationally known businesses to Jasper at the former Crump Nissan location in the area of Viking Drive and Highway 78. The names of the businesses have not been publicly released.
- Approved event permits for:
March for Justice from the Walker County Courthouse to the Walker County Jail on Saturday, March 25, from 3 until 4:30 p.m.
An Easter egg hunt hosted by Hope House Church, on Saturday, April 1, beginning at 10:30 a.m. at Gamble Park.
A birthday party Sunday, April 16, from 2 until 4 p.m. at Gamble Park.
A recital/fun day hosted by The Willow Project on Friday, April 14, from 6 until 9 p.m. at Gamble Park.
A block party hosted by the Jasper Area Family Services Center on Saturday, May 6, from 1 until 5:30 p.m.
A praise and worship service hosted by Fairview Church on Saturday, May 13, from 4:30 until 8:30 p.m. on the courthouse square.
Art in the Park hosted by the Walker County Arts Alliance on Saturday, May 13, from 9 a.m. until 3. p.m. at Gamble Park.
- Approved a request for travel for personnel from the city’s sanitation department to attend a Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA) landfill operator course Aprll 2-5 in Orange Beach.
- Adopted an amendment to the city’s budget to provide funding to purchase a 2014 Ford pickup for the Memorial Park Natatorium, a van to be used for animal control, and a commercial washer for the Jasper Police Department.
- Adopted a resolution to allow O’Mary to enter into an agreement with the Walker County Humane Society for use of a van deemed as unneeded property by the city.
