Council meets, hears from citizen on Williams Street project

The Bainbridge City Council met Tuesday, June 2. As the meeting got underway Bainbridge resident Debra Freeman, who lives on Williams Street in West Bainbridge, came to voice her concerns about the proposed Williams Street project which includes improving utilities and paving the road. Mrs. Freeman, who has lived at her Williams Street residence for 30 year's urged the Council to look into other options.

Current plans for Williams Street require many large Oak trees to be removed to make room for improvements to the road. Mrs. Freeman stated that the proposed plans will not only require fifteen trees to be removed but would also require her neighbors to lose their porches literally placing the road at their door steps. Williams Street, added to the city in the 1920's, does not currently follow its deeded path and over time has infringed upon property owned by McKenzie Tank Lines.

City Manager Chris Hobby stated that the city has the following options:

• Purchase the property from McKenzie Tank Lines to allow for the new road to be built where the current road is to allow the trees to remain.
• Not pave Williams Street at all and only install water/sewer systems which would also allow the trees to remain.
• Follow the current plan to straighten the road to follow its original line and add water/sewer systems which would require the trees to be removed.

Councilwoman Roslyn Palmer voiced her concern about removing the trees and asked if McKenzie could be approached and request them for the property to be deeded over allowing the new road to remain where the current road is. The Council stated they would look into the matter further.