City Council "Nixes" Back-In Parking But
Votes Unanimously For Downtown Square Design

 

by: Bobby McDonald

 

As expected, a passionate group of people made their way to the monthly Sulphur Springs City Council Meeting, on Tuesday night, as back-in parking, two-way traffic, and an overall approval of the downtown revitalization plan for the square were discussed and voted on. The Council opened the meeting with approval of a consent agenda and voted to cancel the May election, due to both candidates, Freddie Taylor and Gary Spraggins, running unopposed in their respective council seat races.

The first of three items concerning the downtown square revitalization plan was the issue of "back-in" parking.  First to speak during the discussion period was Roy Pelton, who stated that "this was another issue attempted to be thwarted by the C.A.V.E. (Citizens Against Virtually Everything)." "I've been on Planning and Zoning Committee and involved in a number of city projects from the Sulphur Springs Public Library, to allowing the serving of alcohol in local restaurants, to now this project, and there are always a number of people against progress." Once the plans are implemented folks will find out that they weren't near as bad as they thought they were!"

Meanwhile, a number of other citizens "refuted" Pelton's logic and spoke passionately about their lack of ability to back into a parking space and how that the "back-in" parking would not work, when traffic was slowed, waiting on you to back into the space. Councilman Charles Oxford sited the results of local surveys that were conducted around town and some 98.26% of the people surveyed had not approved of the back-in parking. On a unanimous vote by the Council, the back-in parking item was defeated.

Things became a "little more heated" as the issue of two-way traffic on the downtown square and Gilmer and Oak Avenue Streets was discussed. Citizens Robert Mercer, Ruth Davis, Jorene Orr, Myra Grant, and others spoke against the implementation of the two-way traffic pattern. "Why fix something that isn't broke? questioned many of those opposing the issue.

 

 

 

Many sited the narrow driving lanes on Main Street, that prevented drivers from comfortably driving down that street, despite its beauty and new look. "You keep talking about jobs and bringing back business to the downtown area and slowing people down will not make people spend money," stated Grant. "Many of us avoid Main Street and will avoid the square, if it is fashioned in the same way!"

"I'm a lifelong resident of Sulphur Springs, for the past 55 years," expressed Brad Massey, a downtown square business owner. Why don't you mark off the two-way traffic in the downtown area and let everyone see it for 6 months and prove to us that it will work, before you spend $4 million dollars, on this project?" begged Massey. "I don't think it will work, but I'll stand corrected, if it does!"

Massey's proposal received a round of applause from many in the audience.

Councilman Oxford once again sited the surveys that had circulated through town and stated that the results did not reflect that the people of Sulphur Springs were for the two-way traffic patterns. This drew "ire" from Councilman Johnson, who accused Oxford of conducting a "push-poll" and that the poll wasn't "scientific!"

Additional discussion ensued with members of the City Council expressing their faith in the designer and traffic engineer who was the "expert" on traffic flow, who designs traffic patterns throughout the U.S. "We've consulted him and brought in people who are qualified to make this decision," expressed Mayor Gary Spraggins. "They're the experts in this field and they tell us that to bring business back to the downtown area, we need two-way traffic. We've got to believe they know what is best!"

The Council voted 5-1 for the two-way traffic pattern, with Councilman Oxford casting the dissenting vote!

 

 

The third item on the agenda, concerning the downtown revitalization plan, was the approval of the design for the square. Don Rountree, representing the Veteran's Memorial Group was called on to present a "tweek" in the design that his group had suggested, in regard to the utility units for the Hopkins County Courthouse being covered with a "water wall" to soften the noise level and to "shift" some of the memorial toward the center of the square. The "tweek" brought approval from several of the council members and was attempted to show that there is flexibility in the plan, when issues arise.

Some from the audience took exception and addressed the council stating that they had already said that the design was "in place."

The Council voted unanimously to approve the square design with the "tweeks" presented by the Veteran's Memorial group.

In other action, the Council voted to approve a 5% matching funding for a grant received by the Sulphur Springs Fire Department, and additional routine items.

"This is an 'open mike' night at City Council," expressed Mayor Gary Spraggins. "And, we've got some Boy Scouts who are attending their first meeting. What did you think?"

One scout spoke and stated that he was working on another merit badge and Tuesday night's session had presented him with a number of things to consider in his scout work!

The meeting adjourned before 10:00 p.m.

 

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