Bruce Mayor Outlines Long Range Plan PDF Print E-mail
By JOEL McNEECE
Bruce Mayor Robert Edward Oakley outlined his long range plan for the city at a special meeting of the board of aldermen Monday night. Among the many goals Oakley shared were improving drainage problems, repairing streets, addressing garbage pick-up issues and future annexation.
Oakley began his presentation with City Hall, citing a need for more space. He said work space for City Clerk Rita Talford, Deputy-Clerk Janice Norris, and Court Clerk Diana Martin needs addressing.
“It gets really crowded with all four of us in the office at the same time,” Oakley said.
Proposals included moving court into the board room so City Hall could use the courtroom for office and storage space.
robert_edward_oakley_2008Oakley expressed the importance of “public records” and making them more accessible to the public. He said the city needs to plan for codification of ordinances and digitizing all the minutes.
He said he would also like for the city to get its website up and running again with more information available for the public, including announcements of board meetings.
Oakley’s presentation on the streets department began with the city shed.
“We need to make the Public Works building look better,” Oakley said. “It’s an eye-sore for people entering town from the south.”
Drainage was a big issue for this department. Oakley said all the major ditches need attention. He said the dam in the ditch on Jimmy Beckley Road (south of Old Bruce Company) that causes water to back up is a particularly sore spot with him.
“I’d like to take some dynamite and blow up that dam tomorrow, but that probably wouldn’t be the smartest thing to do,” Oakley said.
The city continues in a court battle with Borrego Springs Bank of California to determine who is entitled to the deed to that property. Oakley said as soon as that is settled the dam in the ditch needs to be addressed.
Oakley said culverts all over town need to be studied to make sure the right sizes are in place. He recommended the board consider an ordinance that regulates what size culvert goes where and require shoulders on the sides of culverts, to be installed by the city, so the ends couldn’t get smashed and for better appearance.
Within the water and sewer department, Oakley said the board will have to study rates, look at connecting the two wells, upgrade meters around the city and study treatment facility growth capacity.
Oakley said street and traffic signs around town need to be corrected and straightened where needed. He also wants to explore more street cleaning. He said the city once hired a sweeper for $100 a month to come in at midnight and sweep the streets.
“I think we should look at it,” Oakley said. “It would make our streets look a lot better.”
Oakley challenged the board to come up with a long-term street-improvement plan, including a paving priority list for all streets in the city.
One street Oakley said he thought needed immediate attention is Lakeside Subdivision Street near Yancy-Easley subdivision. Oakley said the erosion of the ditches has narrowed the street and made it very dangerous.
Other culverts and bridges needing attention were Newberger north of Pine Street, North Tyson Road at Bynum Street, and Clay Street west of McSweyn.
Oakley said he would also like to see a “sidewalk program” initiated in the city.
“We need to fix what we’ve got and in some places we need to add sidewalks, especially close to the schools,” Oakley said.
He also asked board members to give him ideas of where more street lights may be needed.
Ideas mentioned for the police department included adding video cameras and microphones in all patrol cars, studying how after-hours dispatch is handled, and coming up with more “community engagement” programs.
Oakley said he wanted to see more progress with recycling in Bruce and wants to take a serious look at some lingering problems with the garbage pick-up service with the county.
“They continue to pull sacks by hand and leave trash in the bottom of the bins,” Oakley said. “I get as many complaints on this as anything.”
Oakley noted that the city purchased lifts that were installed on the garbage trucks but aren’t being used. He said if the problems can’t be corrected, then the city can study other options for garbage service.
Oakley’s plans related to the fire department included studying the requirements for lowering the city’s fire rating and see what can be done; establishing a fireplug maintenance program; and studying water-supply costs in potential annexation areas.
Plans for Bruce Park were appointing a Park Commission and giving them the responsibilities they’re in-tended to have. Oakley also noted the potential for expanding the park’s programs and improving facilities.
No specific areas were mentioned as potential targets for annexation, but Oakley said it’s something the board should make plans for. He noted the city’s current expense of providing fire and police protection outside the city. He said citizens living just outside the city are taking advantage of the city’s lower fire rating.
“We’re all familiar with the arguments for it,” Oakley said. “I think we’re all in agreement it’s something we will need to look at.”
Other items addressed in Oakley’s plan were improving the zoning ordinance, establishing a “tree initiative,” a city clean-up plan for both residential and commercial areas, a citywide landscaping plan, and becoming more active in promoting the city regarding the Sawmill Festival, Bruce Museum, Bol-linger Theatre and more.
“Obviously this a lot that we can’t do in a year or two,” Oakley said. “But I think it’s important that we get a plan in writing to work from so we’re all on the same page.”
In other business from Monday’s meeting, the board studied several sample job descriptions for the Public Works Director, provided by the Stennis Institute. Mayor Oakley encouraged the board to study the descriptions and come up with suggestions for one the city can adopt as they begin the process of looking for Larry Blackwelder’s successor. Blackwelder is retiring at the end of the year.
In a separate matter, the board held a hearing on the Cain property at 326 East Johnson. Donnie Paul Cain asked the board for time to allow him to attempt to sell the dilapidated property. If he couldn’t sell it then he would be interested in allowing the fire department to burn it.
The board agreed to proceed with getting the paperwork ready to file with circuit court. The court process could take up to six months. Cain will have that amount of time to do something with the property or it will be demolished by the city upon court approval.