By Malynda Fulton — HAHIRA — The Hahira City Council voted to draw up a letter requesting that the Old U.S. 41 widening project be deleted during its regular session Thursday evening.
The decision was made after the CAR 41 North group, along with several Hahira citizens, attended this week’s Lowndes County Board of Commissioners meeting to submit petitions in opposition of the proposals presented by the Georgia Department of Transportation, which include two one-way pairs running through the city of Hahira or a western bypass connected to two lanes that run in each direction through the city. Because the DOT has refused to hear alternatives to the proposals, citizens would rather not see the project completed at all.
“We do not want to be subjected to such a major reconstruction of the city,” group leader Barry Braun said. “We understand that Hahira requested widening of the highway in a reasonable manner back in ‘91 or ‘92. However, now it seems that it’s DOT’s way or no way.”
Braun’s wife, Sue, expressed the group’s appreciation of the city’s support at the Commission meeting as well as through the letter, which is to be submitted to the DOT, county and state legislation. She also said the group plans to attend the next Commission meeting to deliver more petitions.
“We don’t know what we have to do,” she said. “But we’ll keep fighting this all the way.”
The new recycling center regulations, which state that Lowndes County recycling centers will accept solid waste from unincorporated residents only, was also a main topic of discussion during the meeting. During the citizens to be heard portion, Wilmon Stanley expressed his concerns, particularly since he used the center in Hahira to dispose of yard trash often. Stanley said he feared the ban would increase burning of waste, which could be dangerous in the area.
City Manager Jonathan Sumner recently had a conversation about the issue with Lowndes County Manager Joe Pritchard, who said the county would consider placing a “roll-off” container for recyclables outside of the center that city residents could have access to.
Mayor Wayne Bullard said he has spoken with two county commissioners and they assured him a meeting to see what can be done about the situation, especially since they have received several complaints about the new regulations.
Councilman Terry Benjamin asked Hahira Police Chief Terry Davis to add more patrols in areas such as Union Road in the meantime, to avoid dumping on roadsides.
Other items discussed were:
- Infrastructure recommendation for water’s edge; unanimously approved
- Purchase of a radio for the Hahira Fire Department; unanimously approved
- Permission to send Hahira Police Lt. Bobbi Dumas to the TAC Conference between Aug. 26 to 28; unanimously approved.
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