GARFIELD -- Three of four City Council members voted against a proposal to pave Tall Oaks Lane after council member Dale Watkins recommended it. Watkins left immediately after the vote failed saying: "I don't think you need me."
"The commitment was already agreed to... back in his administration," Watkins said, referring to former mayor Bobby Flickinger who served from 2000 to 2005 when he resigned. Watkins had letters from several residents who live on the road. "They're all concerned. They want to see something done. That's what my constituents are telling me they want."
Watkins said Flickinger handed the responsibility of paving Tall Oaks Lane to the next mayor, but nothing has been done. He said he had received a couple of bids and that it would take about $55,000 to pave the road with two inches of asphalt.
"I don't think you'll find anybody at the table that will disagree the work needs to be done ... we've got a lot of work to do on city streets," Mayor Gary Blackburn said. "The only reason we exist as a City Council is to provide services."
Bill Matthew, council member, said: "What's blowing my mind right now, we're talking about $54,000 for a tractor and another $60,000 for a road. That's a heck of a bunch of money for the taxpayers. This all sounds ... like a bunch of politicians when you get up on TV ... we're going to do everything for everybody. We've gotta watch what we're doing back here. We can't outspend Avoca; Gateway is about the only one if we get in a race. At some point, we've got to get serious here."
Watkins, saying "It's the right thing to do" made the motion to pave Tall Oaks Lane and was the only council member to cast a yes vote. Aldermen Katherine Shook, Malania Carter and Matthew all voted against the proposal.
Watkins left immediately after the vote failed.
General News on 08/19/2015