Motorists complaints about downtown Athens corners being too big to handle have been heard.

Public Works Director James Rich told City Council members Monday the curbing around the downtown traffic bulb-outs near Bennett’s Clothing and the Center For Lifelong Learning will be modified. The city will install slanted or layback curbing that won’t damage a tire or shock a motorist when inadvertently struck. Such curbing is much shallower than typical 6-inch variety.

A bulb-out is a traffic-calming measure installed to improve pedestrian safety downtown and to meet the requirements of the Americans With Disabilities Act. Rich said layback curbing will also be used around other traffic bulb-outs planned but not yet installed. He said the bulb-outs near Bennett’s at Jefferson and Washington streets and Lifelong Learning at Marion and Washington streets were slated to be replaced anyway for paving and other reasons. So, restoring them with the layback curbing is not a problem.

District 2 City Councilman Harold Wales, who has led the charge for possible modifications near the downtown bulb-outs, has said he has heard from numerous residents who say the curbing juts out too far, causing them to to either strike the curb with their tire or drive onto the grass above the curb. He had asked at a previous meeting whether the city could minimize how far future curb extensions jut out into the traffic lane.

Rather than change the reach of the bulb-outs, Rich had said the city could modify the curbing itself.

In the downtown, the bulb-outs extend the sidewalk, which reduces the crossing distance and allows pedestrians and approaching motorists to see each other when vehicles parked in a parking lane would otherwise block their visibility. The plan is for all of the corners downtown to have a bulb-out with an electric box, added green space, new striping, landscaping, ADA compliance, new lighting and corrected turning radiuses.

Contractor Tax Morell told The News Courier the Alabama Department of Transportation has approved the use of a curbing that lays down more than the existing standard curbing the city is installing.

In other action Monday, council heard the following:

• Resident Ralph Diggins thanked the council for legalizing the sale of alcohol on Sundays in the city because the change is generating an additional 18 to 19 percent in revenue for the city;

• Resident Mae Davis thanked city officials for getting sidewalk installed from Hine to 12th streets, something she had been requesting for years.

In other action, the council took the following action:

Consent calendar

• Resolution to approve $320.40 travel/education expenses for Water Services Manager Frank Eskridge, who attended the Alabama Water and Wastewater Institute annual conference;

• Resolution to approve the purchase of one Lexmark Copier for the Cemetery, Parks and Recreation Department from The Lioce Group for $1,210; and

• Resolution to approve travel expenses for the following Electric Department personnel: Kelvin Snyder, Tennessee Valley Public Power Association relay protection and coordination, Nashville, $92.11; Christian Runge, TVPPA Lab C, Scottsboro, $116.53; Charlie Deffenbaugh, TVPPA Lab C, Scottsboro, $109.72; and Jeff Hines, TVPPA Lab C, Scottsboro, $113.50.

Regular calendar

• Resolution to pay Goodwyn, Mills and Cawood Inc. $72,000 for schematic design of the proposed new Athens recreation center, which the architect has already drawn. The money to pay the architect will come from the anticipated city capital projects fund;

• Resolution to authorize the mayor to enter into an agreement with Morell Engineering for the construction, engineering and inspection services of the Alabama Department of Transportation’s Transportation Alternatives Program Project – Limestone County Courthouse Landscape Plan. The budget for these services is $73,350 and is funded by ALDOT as an 80-20 match;

• Resolution to appoint Deborah Gill of Athens to the Lincoln-Bridgeforth Park Committee. Her term will expire Nov. 27, 2023;

• Resolution concerning 2017-18 municipal appropriations for various governmental agencies and purposes, including the following:

• $120,000 for Athens-Limestone Public Library plus up to $2,500 for maintenance;
• $20,000 for Houston Memorial Library plus up to $10,000 in maintenance; and
• $15,000 for Healthcare Authority of Athens and Limestone County for transport of kidney dialysis patients for treatment;

• Resolution concerning 2017-20 municipal appropriations/contracts and third-party non-governmental entities, including up to $8,000 for ARC of Alabama Inc. in Limestone County for planning, establishment and furnishing of recreational, social and cultural facilities services and programs for people with cognitive, intellectual and developmental disabilities;

• Resolution concerning 2017-2018 municipal appropriations/contracts and third-party non-governmental entities, including up to $3,000 for the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program for transportation services program for the elderly in the city. (Wales abstained due to being an RSVP board member); and

• Resolution concerning 2017-2018 municipal appropriations/contracts and third-party non-governmental entities, including the following:

• Up to $10,000 for Limestone County Council on Aging for transportation services program for the elderly of the city.
• Up to $5,000 to Dr. Robert Pitman, veterinarian and independent contractor and acting coordinator of the SNYP program, for sterilization of dogs and cats in Limestone County;
• Boys & Girls Clubs of North Alabama, $10,000;
• Limestone County Tourism Association Inc., $87,000;
• Beautification Board, $5,000;
• Keep Athens-Limestone Beautiful, $25,000;
• Athens-Limestone Family Resource Center, $18,000;
• Limestone Learn-to-Read, $10,000;
• Spirit of Athens, $25,000;
• Mental Health Center of North Central Alabama Inc., $10,000;
• Athens Recycling Center, $52,000 for recycling services;
• Athens-Limestone Community Association, $10,000;
• Veteran’s Museum and Archives, $8,000; and
• Set aside for Mayor’s Department the following amount for various special activities: $18,000.