Jackson looks to use federal money to repave 14 streets

Jackson could use Community Development Block Grant funds to pay for repaving of about 14 city streets.

The City Council is expected to vote today on a contract to Dickerson & Bowen, which has offices in Jackson and Brookhaven, to repave the streets.

City spokeswoman Shelia Byrd said the council will be presented with the streets at the special meeting.

It has been in the works for month for the city to repave the streets using CDGB funds, but the awarding of the contract comes after the City Council voted last week against Mayor Tony Yarber's new infrastructure emergency declaration.

Yarber said the council's rejection of the emergency proposal wouldn't have any effect on trying to get streets and other infrastructure improvements done.

Yarber's initially declared an infrastructure emergency March 27. It expired after seven days. Yarber then signed a second, 30-day emergency declaration, but it required City Council support.

The emergency declaration proposed projects, however, only included passing references to upgrading city streets.

The streets listed for repaving with CDBG funds are:

•Oak Glenn Place from Brookhollow Drive to cul-de-sac

•Shadow Cove from Brookhollow Drive to cul-de-sac

•Dogwood Trail from Raymond Road to Will-O-Wood Drive

•Redwood Drive from Dogwood Trail to Dogwood Trail

•Sagamore Street from Boling St. to Englewood St.

•Spencer Drive from Raymond Road to Will-O-Run Drive

•Englewood St. from Bullard St. to dead end

•Old Poplar Road from Baybury Lane to Holly Hill Drive

•Mayfair Drive from Old Lake Drive to cul-de-sac

•Harwen Place from cul-de-sac to Mayfair Drive

•Holly Hill Drive from Old Lake Road to Mayfair Drive

•Eltonwoods Drive from Terry Road to Lake Vista Drive

•Saritini Drive from Lake Vista Drive to cul-de-sac

•Misty Cove Drive from Eltonwoods Drive to cul-de-sac

Wendel Peden, who has lived on Holly Hill Drive for more than 40 years, said he can remember the street only being repaved one time since he lived in the neighborhood.

"Mostly they come and throw some asphalt in the potholes and it washes away when the rain comes," Peden said. "If they have the grant money to do the street, I'm happy. I just hope they do a good job."

Contact Jimmie E. Gates at (601) 961-7212 or jgates@jackson.gannett.com. Follow @jgatesnews on Twitter.