The bridge and roller coaster on Friars Point Road may soon be a thing of the past.
The Clarksdale Board of Mayor and Commissioners will advertise for bids for construction a new bridge for Friars Point Road and with plans for the approaches to the bridge also in the works.
The project, if bidding goes according to plan, could begin this spring. The initial phase calls for rerouting the road that is one of the few avenues north to Coahoma Community College and Friar’s Point during construction.
Commissioners voted to advertise for contractors for the biggest road and bridge project Clarksdale has seen in years on Monday. The city was told the engineering is complete.
The work was initially slated to be a city/county project with the city building the bridge and the county getting the approaches dug-out, refilled and ultimately repaved, since it is a state-aid road.
The approach north of the Friar Point Bridge has long been a problem with the soil shifting and rolling, causing the roadway to sag and to be repaired repeatedly. Engineer Ken Weiland told the county last year the asphalt in some spots could be close to waist-deep.
Pipes that have come loose under the road have added to the problem in that soft bottom.
Commissioners voted to place a stop sign at Westover and Friars Point Road and were told this is the first step in making that an optional route for traffic once construction begins.
City Grant Writer Millicent Dixon said the project will be paid for with bond funds obtained in April 2022. That note is being services by internet sales tax rebate funds from the state.
Clarksdale residents voted in favor of a $5 million bond referendum that would fix flooding problems and improve infrastructure in a 2019 special election.
Projects the city listed in seeking the bond issue included:
1. Replace Second Street Bridge: $3,800,000.
2. Sasse Street drainage: $800,000.
3. Pearson Street levee and/or pump: $2,025,000
4. Sidewalks/Lighting: $1.1 million.
5. Street rehabilitation: $500,000.
6. Friars Point Road Bridge: $3,600,000.
Projects were listed by priority and voters were told Friars Point would be added if funds became available through possible grants.
The city prioritized five projects totaling $8.25 million. However, after allowing for $3 million in funding from the Mississippi Department of Transportation and a $300,000 Community Development Block Grant, the city’s share was $4.91 million.
The city has waffled fixing or replacing the Second Street Bridge. The city initially told voters the bridge was dangerous and put a 4-ton load limit on the span. Fire engines loaded with water, school buses and even Christmas Parade floats are not allowed on the bridge that is used by residents every day.
In Other Business:
Monday’s meeting saw Ward 1 Commissioner Bo Plunk act at Mayor Pro Tem in the absence of Mayor Chuck Espy. Ward 3 Commissioner Willie Turner is on state retirement leave and will not be working for the city until the end of March. Ward 2 Commissioner Jimmie Harris and Ward 4 Commissioner Ed Seals, along with Plunk made it a quorum.
• The city tabled naming a Municipal Court Judge to replace Judge Carlos Moore who resigned. Names presented by the Mayor and Board of Commissioners for the post are, Cindy Mitchell and Burks Rogers.
Plunk said that decision would await the return of the Mayor later this month.
• Police Chief Robbie Linley said the department got 691 calls over the past two weeks, which generated 329 incident reports, 24 arrests with two of those being felony arrests. Officers also issues 10 citations and worked 25 motor vehicle accidents.
• Personnel Director Tara Slack said applications are being accepted for police, fire and labor and people should go by the WIN Job Center to fill out paperwork.
• Commissioner Harris said the city needs a leaf machine to clean gutters and storm drains on city streets. He also said something needs to be done about litter in his district.
• Commissioner Seals said the city has spent good money on the Sasse Street project and there is a need for more drainage work in that area. Seals said this has been an ongoing problem
• The city acknowledged the budget amendments made to the budget fiscal year 2022-23 and noted they are being published in today’s Clarksdale Press Register.
• The city acknowledge the budget amendments made to the budget fiscal year 2023-24 and noted they are being published in today’s Clarksdale Press Register.
• The city accepted the audit report for fiscal year 2021-2022 for Clarksdale Public Utilities, Crossroads Production Department and MS Delta Energy Agency
• The city approved the amended salary for Commissioner Plunk for fiscal year 2023-24. Plunk is retired and does not draw a full city salary like other commissioners.
• The city agreed to rent the South Annex to city employee, Stephanie Davis, on Feb.18, at the reduced rate
• Commissioner voted to reimburse the Park Commission for the purchase of chemicals for the downtown parks in the amount of $1,970.
• The city approved the Mayor to attend the Mississippi River Cities and Towns Initiative Capitol Meeting in Washington, DC on March 6-8, and to pay for registration, hotel and travel.
• The city approved receipt of the Modernization Internet Use Tax in the amount of $515,895.15.
• Commissioner voted to accept receipt of the 2023 Real and Personal Tax Rolls for 2023.
• Commissioners voted to reimburse the city’s debit card for the month of December for $939.39 and January $949.98. Commissioner Harris said he wanted a detailed report of who bought what.
• The city voted to pay Accounts Payable for the month of January in the amount of $156,177.70.
• Commissioners voted to reimburse the Incidental Expense account for the month of January in the amount of $841.52
• The city paid the following Miscellaneous Claims: JEG, $400; Cornerstone, $5,589; Cathy Clark, $4,900; Sandra Johnson, $7,535.98; Mayor Chuck Espy $638.28; Lamar Christian $9,000; Claudette Nawls, $250; Cadence Bank, $6,242.54; Carrier, $6,477.33; Catalis, $3,024; Delta Business Journal, $36; RLI Surety, $175; Willard Concrete, $5,859: Slaughter & Assoc., $535.78; Neel-Schaffer $4,65.88; Stribling Equipment, $103,500; Trustmark, $517,349.50; First National Bank, $275,550; Interest & Bond Fund, $275,550; Urban Renewal Bond 2020, $119,200; Planters Bank, $163,625; GO Bond Series 2019, $55,632.50; Interest & Bond Fund, $163,625.
• The city denied return of the damage deposit of Tommy Williams for violating the auditorium rental policies. Plunk said those people or groups who incur a damage deposit at the Auditorium should be banned from using it again.
• The city approved dispatcher Canada to attend the Human Trafficking Training in Oxford.
• The city approved the animal control officer to attend the MS Animal Control Workshop in Madison.
• The city voted to allow Terry Tyler with TNT Security LLC to work security at the Civic Auditorium.
• The city accepted a quote from Integrated Communications to install equipment for three Dodge Chargers in the amount of $16,790.
• The city accepted a quote from Stribling Equipment for a brush cutter in the amount of $16,000.
• The city made the following status changes, hired Eugene Witherspoon in the Police Department and Roslin Bradley as a paralegal.
• The city acknowledged retirement of Rodney Jackson and Carey Gammill.
effective February 29, 2024
• The city acknowledged the promotions of Richard Trotter and Duane Messenger to Captain in the fire department.
• The city voted to $25,246.99 for the Sasse-Bloom stormwater and drainage improvements.
• The agreed to reimbursement from USDA for the Elm and Riverside project
• The city approved minutes of its Jan. 22 and Feb. 8 meetings.
• The city’s next board meeting will be at noon Thursday, Feb. 22, at City Hall. All meetings are open to the public.
