North Hills design contract a surprise

By By Steve Gillespie / staff writer
Jan. 23, 2004
Two Meridian city councilmen said Thursday they were surprised by the proposed award of an engineering contract on widening North Hills Street.
Ward 3's Barbara Henson and Ward 5's Bobby Smith said as far as they are concerned a design contract for widening North Hills Street from 10th Avenue to Highway 39 would have to take its place among other projects. They wanted to see a final list of all projects to be funded by a $6 million loan before they approved any of them.
They referred to a council meeting earlier this week at which the award of a design contract to the Jackson-based engineering firm Neel-Schaffer Inc., was tabled.
Councilman Smith, who made the motion to table the contract, apologized to a firm representative, who had come to the meeting from Jackson.
The scope of the entire project, however, remains unclear. City councilmen say about $1 million will be awarded to each of the five wards for street projects, and another $1 million to Mayor John Robert Smith for use as he sees fit.
Henson said the council should first make sure there is enough money to pave the streets in each ward. She said there are streets in her ward that have not been overlaid in 30 years.
A good day to pave
Henson said to the best of her knowledge this is not a good time of year to pave streets, but, she said valuable time has been lost.
Councilman Smith pointed out that paving work is being done now by Lauderdale County supervisors.
Dividing the money
Councilman Smith said the district he represents is just as important as North Hills or any other council member's district.
Councilman Smith said he will need more than $1 million because his ward includes downtown Meridian, but, he added that doesn't mean he will get it.