Ordinance for road repair proposed

RIDGELAND — Although good relationships currently exist between the city and contractors who use its roads, some city leaders say they would like to see an ordinance created that would more clearly state repair responsibilities for damage done by heavy trucks.



"I think we would just like to have a little bit more of a legal stance," said Ridgeland Alderman-at-Large Gerald Steen. "There really isn't a problem right now, but we are just looking ahead."



The issue got some floor time during last week's work session for the Mayor and Board of Aldermen.



The topic at that time was Brame Road, which had incurred some damage from work being down on the Greenwood Plantation subdivision by local developer Mark Jordan.



Board attorney James Gabriel said that Jordan has been in contact with him and was "more than willing" to make a donation to help repair the road to its state before the trucks used it as a construction access to the subdivision.



Several alderman noted that the work would be ongoing for "several" years and that repeated damage would continue.



There are no regulations that require a certain amount of repayment.



Public Works Director Sam Vinson said that once traffic engineer David Williams returns from vacation that the issue will be looked into more deeply.



"There should be a reasonable way to do that (develop a formula for repayment of damages)," Vinson said. "We are currently keeping a running total (of damages to Brame Road) and making repairs. That is just a matter of routine for us."



Vinson said that typically negotiation occurs between the city and the contractors involved, noting that it was important to both keep the roads in good shape and the contractors happy.



"It is a real balancing act," he said. "We want to look out for the city's best interests and also manage the growth."



Steen said their are weight limits in place for most city roads, but it was the more recently annexed roads or roads that were built when they did not fall under current city ordinances that hold the most concern.



"Those are really substandard roads, as far as city roads are concerned," Steen said. "There are really just a few of them, but that is something that needs to be looked at."



At one point the city was looking at bringing Brame Road up to city standards when it was reconstructed, but at this point returning it to its original condition appears to be the best option.



In another matter, Ridgeland Mayor Gene McGee said that the position of fire chief was being advertised and that no action to fill the post is expected at the next meeting.



"We are just going through the legal process right now," he said.



The position was vacated when veteran fire chief Elmer Waits was fired in early July when his annual contract was not renewed.



Associate Chief Robert 'Bob' Hill is running the department on an interim basis.