Highfill discusses road problems, takes no action yet on proposed road tax

— Road problems were discussed during the June 14 council meeting in Highfill, with Mayor Stacy Digby updating the council on events and concerns, but no action was taken on a proposed ordinance to seek a temporary tax to fix the roads.

Digby reported complaints received about the terrible condition of Digby and Peterson Roads. Digby also reported receiving several phone calls regarding heavy truck traffic using the roads, which Digby said "shouldn't be happening since those roads are restricted to truck traffic."

"Most of those calls involved trucks associated with the poultry industry," Digby reported.

Digby also noted that he had received a complaint from a poultry grower outside the city limits who was concerned that a truck leaving his farm had been stopped by police. The truck was not ticketed, Digby said. The poultry grower was concerned that the poultry companies were upset with the city, Digby said, adding that none of the poultry companies in the area have called the city regarding roads being closed to heavy truck traffic.

On Nov. 10, 2015, Highfill gave final approval to an ordinance banning through truck traffic on certain streets within the city. It is now illegal for trucks to use Highfill's Main Street, Fourth Street, Digby Road, Peterson Road and Mason Valley Road as through routes. Violators could be charged with misdemeanors and fined up to $500 for each offense. Trucks are defined as any vehicle requiring a commercial driver's license to operate.

Signs were to be posted to warn drivers of the restriction. The new law does not prohibit trucks from using the above roads if they are making deliveries inside Highfill's city limits along those roads.

The city passed the ordinance because, in Digby's words: "We can't afford to pay $20,000 to $60,000 per year to repair streets torn up by county traffic."

Digby reported that the county had agreed to help the city of Highfill patch some of the potholes in its roads and would start in two days.

Alderwoman Michelle Rieff expressed concern over the slow progress in the widening of the intersection at Vaughn and Mason Valley Roads. She was told it was the subdivision doing that work and was not a city project. Rieff also voiced concerns about two potholes near her house on Mason Valley Road.

Property owned by Surviving Girls, LLC., was rezoned by the council from industrial to residential, according to Digby.

All those holding positions on the water and sewer committees were reappointed for another two-year term at the June meeting. They include Mike Reynolds for Position 1 on the water and sewer committees, Retha Willis for Position 3 on both committees, and Philip Carter for Position 5 on the committees. Michelle Hill was reappointed to fill Position 2 on the Parks Commission for a three-year term.

The proposed road improvement tax was presented again to the council for review, but no action was taken. It will be discussed, with a plan to take action on it, next month, according to Digby.

The Highfill City Council discussed at the council's May 10 meeting proposed ordinances asking for a half-cent increase in the city sales and use tax and to put the proposed tax increase on the November ballot. The proposed tax increase would be specifically for road and street maintenance and improvements in Highfill and would sunset after five years. The reason for the proposed tax increase would be to make needed repairs and do maintenance work on the streets and roads in Highfill and get the city caught up on work until projected new growth begins to offset the cost for road maintenance.

The increase, if approved by voters, would generate approximately $175,000 per year for the duration of the tax, enough, Digby said, to make some noticeable road repairs and get the city in better shape before the tax sunsets.

"With the tax we could try to get back to where we need to be and, hopefully, progress will catch up before the tax drops out," Digby said at the council's April meeting when he first introduced the idea.

General News on 06/29/2016