District 3 paving moves forward

Published 9:26 am Wednesday, October 12, 2022

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Following a request by Escambia County Commissioner Scottie Stewart concerning some paving needs in his district (District 3), commissioners agreed to move forward on some areas of County Road 6 and Travelers Rest Cemetery Road during a regular meeting on Tuesday.

Stewart said it makes sense to move forward with paving portions of those roads since the county is already doing work in the area. Incoming Commissioner Larry White was also on hand to offer his support for the request.

“Paving has already begun on Upper Creek Road and there is no reason to leave those areas undone,” Stewart said. “We have the funds in District 3 and even paving these areas will leave good funds for the next year in the district.”

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White echoed Stewart’s sentiments saying it would cost more to do the paving at a later time.

“It would cost the county 25 to 30 percent more to mobilize paving later,” White said. “To do it now while they are already in the area just makes sense.”

Commissioners agreed and paving will be completed in the area while workers are on the paving project in District 3.

In other business Tuesday, the commission:

• approved the posting on No Trucks along Hollywood Drive and Knowles Road near Flomaton in District 3. With recent paving in the area, Stewart said truckers are using those roadways as “short cuts” to reach other roads. The roads are not appropriate for larger truck travel and would only damage the roadways recently upgraded in the area;

• approved an agreement with the Alabama Department of Corrections and the Community Corrections Program, which would provide funding for local programs;

• approved a long-term detention subsidy contract with the Alabama Department of Youth Services to provide housing for youth coming from Escambia County;

• approved a resolution supporting Constitutional Amendments 2 and 7 in the upcoming election. Amendment 2 addresses allowing state and local government so use certain public funds to incentivize broadband expansion in rural and underserved areas while Amendment 7 allows for technical changes to local governments’ economic development powers.