Demolition work could be costly

By Patrick Johnston
Published: May 12, 2008

Demolition work is expected to begin soon in the Dudley Quarters area.
However, that work might be more expensive than at first thought. That’s because the city will be required to use a licensed general contractor, according to comments made at this week’s Eufaula City Council meeting.
The city will soon bid out demolition work on approximately four dozen properties in the Dudley Quarters area. That work will be paid for by a $250,000 Community Development Block Grant the city has received.
However, there were some concerns mentioned at the meeting that the $250,000 might not be enough to cover the cost of the demolition work.
“It’s going to cost a lot more money than it otherwise would cost,” City Attorney Jimmy Calton said.

Alternate route
The Eufaula City Council voted this week to enter an agreement with Skipper Consulting regarding work on the proposed U.S. Hwy. 431 alternate route.
The city has already been working with the firm regarding the proposed design of the route, including landscaping and the possible use of roundabouts at the intersection of the route and U.S. Hwy. 431.
“They bring a lot of value to us,” Eufaula Mayor Jay Jaxon said. “They know what ADOT (the Alabama Department of Transportation) has approved in the past.”
Jaxon also reported that David Risinger of Audubon Partnership would return June 6 to discuss their suggestions for the route. Partnership officials recently came to Eufaula to discuss their preliminary recommendations.
“They’ll fine tune what they presented based on public comments at the meeting,” Jaxon said.

Depot work
The third phase of work at the James S. Clark Center (Eufaula-Barbour County Chamber of Commerce) is nearing completion, Jaxon said.
A new interpretive center and parking lot are among projects for the current phase. Several individuals, including council member Bob Powers, Historic Chattahoochee Commission director Doug Purcell, former Tribune publisher Joel P. Smith and current Tribune columnist Tom Rodgers are currently working on information for the displays that will be in the interpretive center.
Other matters
Jaxon reported that a report on Eufaula’s Rails to Trails project will appear soon on a local television station.
Paving work on Washington Street, State Docks Road and Humminbird Lane should be bid out by June, and work on downtown Eufaula should be bid out by July.
Wal-Mart received a license to sell beer and wine.
Peggy Wright Thomas was elected to the city’s personnel board
The council held the first reading on proposed changes to the electrical code.
The city declared property as surplus.
The city voted to give retired police captain Philip Ezell the Glock he used while with the department. Other retired employees with the department have also received the weapons they used.
The council accepted the low bid for a mannequin to be used by the fire and rescue squad and a postage meter to be used by the city.