Work to be done at night
By DON FLETCHER
News Staff Writer
A trio of Atmore City Council members learned during their Monday, August 12 meeting that the resurfacing of Alabama 21 through the heart of downtown Atmore is tentatively scheduled to begin Sunday, August 25. The work, to be carried out by H.O. Weaver & Sons, will be done overnight, seven days a week, until the project is completed.
“I’m a messenger of good news for those who have wondered about the paving on Highway 21,” Codes Enforcement Officer Greg Vaughn said. “The project is going to occur. The work will begin at the Alabama-Florida line and continue northward to Sunset Drive, about 3.6 miles, give or take.”
Vaughn pointed out that the work, which will be paid for by Alabama Department of Transportation, will be done at night to help prevent traffic congestion during the daylight hours, although some congestion could occur while the work is ongoing.
“This is not a daytime project; all the work will be at night, from 7 p.m. until 6 a.m., seven days a week,” he said. “There will be no detour of traffic but there will be single-lane closures or half-road closures. We’re going to have some congested areas while this occurs.”
Vaughn said the contractor would perform the northern part of the anticipated month-long project first.
“We believe the work will last about a month from the date they start,” he explained. “They are going to begin at the railroad tracks at the intersection of (Ala.) 21 and (U.S.) 31 tracks and work northward to Sunset Drive. When that part is complete, they will begin at the tracks and work southward to the state line.”
The codes enforcement officer also pointed out that vehicles will not be allowed to park along Main Street after 5 p.m. each day.
“One of the key things is the 100 and 200 blocks of Main Street and all our parallel parking,” he said. “They’re going to need that to be cleared; they don’t want to see any cars there. By 5 p.m. each day, they’ll be placing cones to block those spaces.”
In response to a question from Jerry Gehman, Vaughn said, “we haven’t talked about striping and crosswalks, but I would be surprised if that’s not part of the job.”
He also pointed out that several factors could alter the scheduled timetable.
“Their schedules change,” he said. “There could be weather delays or scheduling delays. If you ride through town after 7 p.m. on August 25, and they’re not paving, don’t panic, it’s coming. That’s the best I can offer you right now.”
Council members Chris Harrison (District 5) and Jerome Webster (District 2) were unable to attend the meeting.
In other business, council members:
*Approved the purchase of a new Guardian Mosquito Sprayer to replace the 17-year-old sprayer currently being used by the city.
*Approved a request by Jodi James for Atmore Area Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors to host an outdoor music festival at Boxcar Willie on Saturday, November 16, from 4 to 8 p.m. No word was given as to which acts would perform during the event.
*Issued proclamations honoring and commending Atmore Fire Chief Ronald Peebles and Capt. (Ret.) Louis English. Peebles was recently chosen by the Escambia County Volunteer Firefighter Association as the group’s 2023 Career Fire Chief of the Year; English was selected as ECVFA’s Career Firefighter of the Year.
Peebles has been a city firefighter since 2001 and has been chief of the department since 2013. English, who joined AFD in 1985, retired in 2016 but now serves as an active reserve firefighter.
Peebles said there are two reasons he would ever be selected for such an honor.
“I’m just a guy filling the shoes,” he said. “There are two things that have made me the chief I am. One is the group of guys I’ve got down there; they are a bunch of go-getters. Second, y’all have supported this fire department more than any other council or mayor in Atmore, ever.”
He added with a smile toward the council table that, “sometimes I have to go over the mayor’s head and go straight to (City Clerk) Becca (Smith) to get what I need, but the city has always bought us what we had to have to do our job the way it ought to be done, and I appreciate it.”