Town council talks about street repair

Residents of Butler Street petitioned the city council for a remedy for the condition of their street. The homeowners said that the street, which is a patchwork of cement, asphalt and various repairs is desperately in need of replacement. The council agreed but debated how to proceed. Public works commented on possible repairs and the council weighed both short term and long-term fixes. In the end, the council approved the repair.

The council approved the bid of a Woodland company for $333,883 to solve the water pressure issues on Fern Hill. The residents have had problems with water pressure for years. Some homeowners report not having enough water pressure to take a shower. The repair was approved in the 2024 budget. Council members debated looking for grants to support the project, but the mayor reported that none had been found in the years since this issue was brought to the council.

Finally, the council approved reducing the number of members of the planning commission from five to three. One of the three members could live outside the town limits. The planning commission, which is currently not staffed has had difficulty finding members. The mayor hoped that the commission would take on issues such as a comprehensive town plan that the town council does not have the workforce to complete.