By By MARY-ALLISON LANCASTER – Managing editor
Several "eyessores" are catching the attention of East Brewton City Council members, and Councilman Wayne Howard wants something to be done about it.
During Monday evening's council meeting, Howard discussed with the council several houses in the community that seem to be portraying a negative picture of the city of East Brewton.
Surveying the city as he always does, Howard encountered several houses that have not been fixed since Hurricane Ivan drove through town last year. Some, he said, could prove to be unsafe for children and other residents who approach the property.
Council members would not elaborate on locations of the homes discussed Monday evening. With football season approaching, Howard was concerned that people traveling into the games would get a wrong impression of the city.
According to Lawton Shipp, a code enforcer for East Brewton, there are at least three houses that have already been addressed. He said Tuesday that "everybody has been contacted or is in the process of being contacted."
Over the last several months, council members have amended the nuisance ordinance, including the grass and weed ordinance. Shipp said that he is "well satisfied" with the progress they are making in amending the ordinances, and believes the housing ordinance, which goes hand-in-hand with the nuisance ordinance, has "got enough teeth" in it to allow city officials to enforce it.
In other council news, Mayor Terry Clark opened three bidders vying to repave several streets in the near future. Officials are looking at three different mixes and will choose one of the three that will be better for the repaving. When the bid requests went out two weeks ago, it was asked that companies place bids for each mix type. Clark opened three bids, and Bullard Excavating from Andalusia came out to be the lowest bid and the only company who bid on all three mixes.
Asphalt Specialists in Evergreen was the next lowest bidder. The price they bid for all three mixes was $297,375. Ashland and APAC Southeast Inc. bid $351,436.33 for all three mixes.
On Aug. 18, Clark and other members approved a bond note of $350,000. The bond amount will aid in the paving of the streets. In addition to the 17 streets that will be paved, Howard said "He rode every street in East Brewton and found one other that's in dire need" to be repaved. Fort Crawford Street is likely to be added to the list.