Perry discusses sidewalk installation

Chad McMurrian, engineering services manager for the city of Perry, addressed Mayor and council at Monday’s work session regarding the installation of sidewalks on Houston Lake Road. McMurrian said that there is a portion of sidewalk in the area of Clinchfield Park to the Lumpkin Service Station that ends and needs to be continued, but that a consulting engineer would need to be brought in to help with the completion. McMurrian also explained that there would be some obstacles that need to be overcome in the development of the sidewalk, including but not limited to relocation of a fire hydrant, trees to be removed and grading issues, some of which could be expensive. McMurrian explained that to be in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the sidewalk cannot simply end, but must have an exit, like a crosswalk or another sidewalk to extend to.

City Manager Lee Gilmour cited concerns about accessibility to the Lumpkin Service Station and recommended that council proceed with the sidewalk, but that they consider a design that would connect the sidewalk to Carroll Alley from its end, to avoid impacts on the Lumpkin Service Station and storm drains, though it would still have the obstacles of relocating the fire hydrant and tree removal.

Council concurred that the termination point for that particular sidewalk should be Carroll Alley.

Also discussed, was the naming and renaming of two parks. City Manager Gilmour asked council to consider changing the name of Heritage Park off of Highway 341, to 5 Oaks Park to reference five oak trees that were saved in the redesigning of the park.

Councilman Riley Hunt suggested leaving the name as is, because people know the park now as Heritage Park. Mayor Randall Walker explained that the funding organization, which had a hand in the naming of the park as a legacy, had since pulled out of the project and that it may be appropriate to name the park something else.

Gilmour also asked council to consider a name for the new park at the former Cherokee Pines property, and provided council with possible options including but not limited to Oliver Park, Wind Song Park, and Pine Needle Park.

Councilman Robert Jones endorsed Oliver Park, being that the city was named for Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry while councilwomen Joy Peterson and Phyliss Bynum-Grace favored Wind Song Park. Hunt and councilman Darryl Albritton suggested Pine Needle Park due to the properties relationship to the area of Pine Needle Drive.

Mayor Walker asked council to consider these options and to be prepared to decide on names for both parks at Tuesday night’s pre-council meeting.

In other business, City Manager Gilmour brought forth a discussion had with a developer that included the requirement for the developer to have two separate Knox boxes (emergency key box for use by responders in case of emergency) for each space of his property. Gilmour explained that the developer originally had one box because the building had separate doors but one use, but has since changed the layout of the building to have two separate spaces with a complete wall dividing wall with no wall in between—one side of which is occupied by a tenant—which requires a box for each, and further that the fire code requires some type of box, but not necessarily a Knox box. Gilmour said that the city requires a Knox box because this allows for the fire department to need only one common key to enter them, and also that there be one box for each separate space to avoid confusion of multiple keys being in one box. Gilmour recommended that council concur with the box requirements and informed that in doing so, staff would bring forth an amendment that would clearly specify those requirements.

Chief Building Official Tracy Hester informed council that the code currently does allow for multiple keys to be stored in one box but it makes more sense for separate boxes.

“If the fire department or EMS or police open that box and the keys are not labeled correctly, that’s hindrance in the amount of time that it takes to rescue someone,” Hester said before agreeing that there be separate boxes.

Council agreed to enforce the recommendation.

Perry Police Chief Steve Lynn also addressed council concerning road closures for the upcoming Peaches to Beaches event March 13 and 14. Lynn said that due to a Saturday voting day, access to Carroll Street would be restricted—but not closed—to courthouse only business, as to allow access to things such as doors, handicap parking, and ramps.

Gilmour voiced concerns about the issue of the closures in regard to log trucks seeking access to Interfor Lumber Company by way of Main and Ball Streets. Mayor Walker also voiced concern for the access of these trucks, citing that Interfor has had a decrease in supplies of pine due to weather conditions and that in the coming weeks, the company might be seeing the heavy movement of these trucks coming to the mill. Lynn confirmed that Ball Street would remain open.

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