Williamsville crosswalks to be safer

Safer crosswalks will be installed at Williamsville after a discussion by Philadelphia aldermen last week. 

Ward 2 Alderman Jim Fulton asked Street Department Superintendent Patrick Gray if there was something that could be done to ensure pedestrians are safer crossing the street, as in perhaps repainting the crosswalks.

Gray suggested a more effective approach by revamping the crosswalks with thermoplastic road markers, placing cautionary rumble strips down, and fixing the solar-paneled LED flashing pedestrian sign.

“After initial inspection, the solar panel is damaged, but I’m hoping it can be repaired,” Gray said. “If you see road worker signs, please be cautious of our people out there. We are not going to close the road off, but we will be working one lane at a time.”

Materials have been ordered with a plan to complete the job on an upcoming Sunday morning, he said, but the specific date is still undetermined.

In other action\, the alderman voted unanimously to:

• Approve a motion for the mayor and board to attend the Mississippi Municipal League Mid-Winter Conference Jan. 9-11 and for the city to pay for registration and travel; 

• Approve a motion to pay Allen & Hoshall invoice totaling $840 for services on the Booker T ADA Improvement CDBG project;

• Approve a motion to hire Bryce Parkerson with the Street Department at $10 per hour effective Nov. 27 pending a drug screen; 

• Approve a motion to set a hearing date Dec. 19 on rezoning 228 B Lewis Ave. from R1 to R3; 

• Approve a motion to allow a C Spire road bore along St. Francis Drive;

• Approve a motion to place decorative roof Christmas lights from CDP on the new Police Department building;

• Approve a motion to promote Colton Lewis to Patrolman 2nd Class at $17.56 per hour; 

• Approve a motion to hire Connie Smith with the Police Department as Patrolman 1st Class at $16.36 per hour; 

• Approve a motion to hire Brandon Beckham as Patrolman 1st Class at $16.36 per hour effective Nov. 22; 

• Approve a motion to terminate an officer from the Police Department effective Nov. 8; 

• Approve a motion to declare as surplus and place the following vehicles from the Police Department on the GovDeals website: 2010 Dodge Charger, 2008 Dodge Charger, 2014 Ford Taurus, 2016 Ford Taurus, 1998 Ford Crown Vic, 2007 Buick Lucerne;

• Approve a motion to discontinue the burn ban for the city of Philadelphia;

• Approve a motion to promote firefighter Richie Creekmore to Captain/EMT at $16.13 per hour.