Roadwork on 15th Street South has been complete for several weeks, but George Hazard still sees large trucks driving by his house on College Street.

What’s worse, the truck drivers are passing three signs directing them to Main Street in order to improperly use College as a through-street.

“The city’s instructions are being ignored with no consequence and increased danger,” Hazard told the city council Tuesday during its meeting at the Municipal Complex.

Large trucks, such as dump trucks and semis, were permitted to use College Street as a detour during recent stormwater drainage work that temporarily closed part of 15th Street South. That accommodated trucks traveling to and from APAC, located south of the city on Lake Norris Road, which typically take 15th Street from the plant, turned west on College, then north on 14th Street South to get to Main Street.

However, Hazard said those trucks are turning onto College from 15th and continuing west as far down as Fifth or Third streets.

Part of the problem, he said, are the signs along College directing truckers to Main Street are faded and may need to be placed farther east to give truckers more advanced warning.

Public Works Director Casey Bush confirmed the city had bought new signs and assured Hazard better placement wouldn’t be an issue.

Hazard also asked the council to increase police presence on College Street to ticket truckers ignoring the city signs, though he acknowledged, “I don’t know whether the signs constitute law or only advice.”

“It is just a suggestion because we don’t have an ordinance. I don’t think the police can write a ticket,” Mayor Stephen Jones told him.

In addition, Hazard requested the city place a left turn signal on the stoplight at Main and 14th Street to make the correct route “safer and more appealing” to truckers. That, he was told, was a state issue.

Council members briefly discussed creating an ordinance to enforce the truck route, something City Attorney Jeff Turnage assured they could do.
Kevin Stafford, the city’s engineer, suggested city officials also meet with APAC leadership to discuss the preferred truck route. The last time that happened, he said, was “probably 20 years ago.”

After the council meeting, Hazard said he was fine with the city’s response to his complaint.

“If they beef up the signs and it works, I’ll be satisfied,” he said.

Other business

In other business, the council:

■ approved the low bid of $177,283.96 from Stuthers Recreation LLC for park playground improvements at Propst, Sandfield, Lee and North Haven Woods;

■ renewed its contract with Lookout IT to market the Sen. Terry Brown Amphitheater with the understanding the Columbus-Lowndes Convention and Visitors Bureau would reimburse the city the $5,000 monthly cost;

■ hired four new police officers and rehired two former officers, bringing the department to full staff; and

■ reappointed Randi Robison to a five-year term on the Columbus-Lowndes Public Library Board.

Zack Plair is the managing editor for The Dispatch.