Priorities for road work around Lindsay discussed at Council meeting
Despite the absence of Council Member Watson and Mayor Kimball, Lindsay’s City Council had a lively conversation concerning the city’s streets Tuesday evening at the regularly scheduled City Council meeting.
Director of City Services Mike Camarena presented the Council and city staff with a brief slide show which outlined the results of a street study session that was conducted. Camarena’s results indicated that for the 2018-19 fiscal year, the streets on Tulare Road and downtown were the priority for rehabilitation or alteration. The results also indicated Westmore Court, Samoa Street and Hermosa Street as in need of maintenance. After explaining the study session results and options, Camarena requested that the Council open up for discussion.
Council member Velasquez expressed concern as to why alley ways were worked on instead of the streets.
“The question I always get is why are we doing alleys when we have roads that need work?” asked Velasquez.
Council Member Salinas commented about the weight of trash trucks and how the impact of the trucks effect the alley ways when they drive through them to pick up trash.
After a small conversation, the Council agreed that Tulare Road and Hermosa Street should be priority above other streets because they are heavily used compared to most of the roads around town.
Velasquez also questioned as to why Harvard Street wasn’t on the list for this year. The other Council members seemed to agree that the portion of Harvard Street that runs in front of Reagan Elementary School was in need of some maintenance as well.
Council Member Cortes made a comment about the streets in the newer housing developments being nice to drive on, but the streets leading to those housing developments were not so nice to drive across.
At the conclusion of the discussion, it was determined by the Council that seals on Tulare Road, the streets Downtown, the portion of the road in front of Reagan Elementary and Orange Street were projects that needed the most attention.
Council also concluded that rehabilitation of Mirage Avenue, Hermosa Street, Harvard Street and Sequoia Avenue need to be done as well. The Council will rank these projects in order of priority at a later date.
Pastor Josh Tredway of The Harvest Center Church provided the Council with an invocation prayer and announced that his church will be holding celebration services this upcoming weekend in honor of their six years of service to the community.
Once public comment was opened, Eric Sinclair approached the podium. Sinclair expressed to the Council that he would like to see a helicopter pad in every city so people who need emergency help can receive it immediately.
After public comment was closed, Council Members reported on events, activities or matters regarding the city.
Cortes made the Council aware that October is Bully Prevention Month as well as Breast Cancer Awareness Month. She also announced that Red Ribbon Week will be taking place October 23-31.
“This encourages learners to do something positive and prevent them from doing drugs,” Cortes stated
about the activities that take place during Red Ribbon Week.
Salinas brought the Council up to date on the Posole and Menudo Cook Off that took place
on October 6th.
“It was well attended, a lot of cars,” said Salinas. “They had a little rat rod and low rider show at the same time. Primos Tacos won both the Posole and the Menudo.”
Ireland Mccall, Lindsay High School's student representative was
the next one up to give a report. She informed the Council that senior night for sports is coming up and that the cheerleaders will be holding a mini cheer camp. She also stated that Lindsay High School will be holding a fall academic awards ceremony Thursday.
The Council's consent calendar was approved with a vote of 3-0, including the official naming of the new sports park as the Lindsay Sports Complex.
Bill Zigler, the city manager, announced that Dollar General will be forward with construction soon. Zigler also requested that an Ad-hoc committee be formed to plan the grand opening of the Lindsay Sports Complex. Cortes and Salinas agreed to form the planning committee. Zigler also announced that Lindsay's new fire truck is almost complete and will be coming to California soon. He concluded his report by reminding the Council of the upcoming fall clean up event which will take place October 18, 19 and 20.
The next scheduled City Council meeting is set for October 23 at 6 p.m. in the City Hall located at 251 E. Honolulu Street.