By RANDALL ALLEN

Horion Reporter

CELINA-City of Celina aldermen were busy at their September meeting, which was held here in advance of Labor Day weekend last Tuesday.

The meeting resulted in the approval of a purchase of new trash cans for city residents, a proposal to make a section of West Lake Avenue a one way street, and increased police funding to help deter egg throwing on Halloween inside city limits.

Additionally, action was taken on the proposed bypass around downtown and delinquent water bill procedures.

Trash cans

City legislators considered the purchase of 555 black trash cans with gold lettering at a proposed cost of $34,326.25.

After some discussion, aldermen chose to go with black trash cans with white letters that would be approximately $505 less expensive than the initial cost.

“If it’s going to save money, it’s fine with me,” alderman Kenny Westmoreland said.  “This is something that we are going to have to do sooner or later.

“We have kicked the can long enough.”

Westmoreland made a motion and alderman Brittany Kerr seconded it. The motion passed by a 2-0 vote.

Street will

be one way

The city made part of West Lake Avenue a one way street, after a pair of business owners discussed their issues with the current state of the road in front of The Shabby Rose Boutique, which is located at 111 West Lake Avenue.

Shabby Rose owners Robin Kerr and Melissa Roach explained why they wanted the section of West Lake Avenue from the four-way stop beginning on State Route 52 and ending on Main Street to be one way.

“You have cars on our side and cars on the other side and they are trying to get through,” Robin Kerr said.  “People make U-turns directly in front of the store.”

The pair told the board about various traffic issues they witnessed in front of their business, including speeding and drivers passing each other going the same direction of travel.

Another issue the business owners raised is limited parking in front of their store.

“We have got more businesses than we ever have right there,” Robin Kerr said, and she informed the board the new “Welcome to Celina” sign cost them parking spots.

Alderman Kerr agreed with Robin Kerr’s statement and offered her thoughts on the issue.

“The sign is out in the road enough that you cannot safely park beside the sign without getting hit by somebody,” she said.  “That took away four parking spots by itself.”

Roach further drove home the point.

“If you have got a passenger with you, they can’t open their car door, unless you park far out in the road,” she said.  “If you open the car door, you will hit the poles on the sign.”

Alderman Kerr explained the change would affect her personally.

“And look, Brittany Kerr is going to have to drive through there everyday, but when it comes to the safety of everyone else…” she said, before making a motion to make the section of road a one-way street.

Alderman Justin Rich seconded the motion and it passed 3-0.

He then made a suggestion to help people remember the change has been made.

“We probably should paint arrows on the road, just to remind people,” he said, prior to Westmoreland inquiring about a timeline. 

“If we pass this, how long will it be until this is implemented?” Westmoreland asked.  “Will we have to print notices in the paper, telling people what is happening?”

“I would like to,” alderman Kerr replied.

“There will have to be signage there, of course, so it will be a little bit of a work in progress, but I imagine it would go pretty quick,” city mayor Luke Collins said.  “You know, a week or two, and I imagine lines will be there, signs will be up, and everyone will understand it.”

More police

for Halloween

Westmoreland made a motion to approve an extra $5,000 in city police funding for Halloween.

The purpose of the funds are to hire more certified law enforcement officers to deter the Halloween egg throwing in Celina.

Rich seconded the motion and it passed 3-0.

Vote on the

bypass fails

Rich made a motion to allow people inside the city limits to vote on whether or not they want a truck route to come through Celina.

The truck route in the motion was referring to is the proposed bypass around the downtown area.

Westmoreland seconded Rich’s motion and a vote was taken.

Rich voted yes, Kerr voted no, Westmoreland abstained from the vote, and the motion failed.

Water policy

change made

Westmoreland made a motion to change the water bill past due cutoff period from 15 to 21 days.

The motion also included a clause stating the city would not shut off non-paying customers on Fridays. 

Kerr seconded the motion and it passed 2-0.