QUESTIONS REMAIN ON ROAD PAVING IN JACKSON

JACKSON -- Oak Hill Road residents crowded into Jackson City Hall Monday night for what promised to bring the final answers to their road-paving questions.

But following one and one-half hours of discussion and the removal of one man from the meeting, at least two problems remained: Who should pay for moving a water line and installing box culverts?

Residents say the city should foot the bill for a culvert at the intersection of Oak Hill and Bainbridge roads and for moving the water line to the opposite side of Oak Hill.

Discussion about paving the road began last year, with both sides going back and forth on width and who should pay for what. The Board of Aldermen finally committed to paying half of the total road cost, with residents receiving tax bills for the other half.

Residents say they agreed to have the road paved without objection when they thought the cost would be $15 per foot of frontage. City officials say that figure was tossed out for paving only -- not for box culverts and the water line.

City Attorney David Beeson said figures shouldn't have been tossed around casually because nobody knows what the tax bills will be until a project is finished. Residents contended since the figures were stated, they are owed an explanation about why they may be charged over $30 per foot.

One property owner on Oak Hill Road, Rick Fink, immediately took the podium at Monday's meeting. After Fink demanded several times that Mayor Paul Sander quote an exact cost the city agreed upon, Sander threatened to eject him from the meeting. Sander's reply to Fink was that the city agreed to pay 50 percent of the total cost.

A few minutes and several outbursts later, Fink was told to leave and he did.

"I felt he was not fair to the residents," Sander said. "He showed no respect for the council. My goal was to maintain order and have a good discussion, and we had order once he was ejected."

About the citizens' questions, he said the board would consider picking up the tab for the culverts and water line, but couldn't predict what the decision would be.

Oak Hill Road residents John and Ruth Powers said after the meeting they wouldn't be pleased until a decision was made. They also questioned why the street curved around a property line instead of going straight.

The board will meet in regular session at 7:30 p.m. Monday, Aug. 21.