KINGWOOD — Three city streets and the Civic Center parking lot will be paved soon.
At their meeting Tuesday evening, council members voted 5-1 to pave North Locust Street, Larue Avenue, Fortney Avenue and the Civic Center parking lot. The cost of the project will be $118,200.
Mayor Jean Guillot said the city will save $40,000 by having the streets and the parking lot paved at the same time instead of doing them separately.
Councilman Bill Robertson raised an objection and said he believes other streets need to be paved more than the parking lot does. He said Sisler Street, Hickory Street and Sanders Avenue were examples of some of the streets in disrepair.
Sisler Street runs into Charles Street, which in turn runs into Murdock Street, and is used to reroute traffic during the Buckwheat Festival.
“We have other streets that need paving more than the Civic Center parking lot,” Robertson said. “Find the money for Sisler and I’ll go along with it.”
Robertson was the only council member to vote against the project. Guillot asked Robertson and city supervisor Bruce Pyles to make a list of streets that need paving for the next meeting.
In other business, garbage rates will increase in June.
Kingwood City Clerk Michelle Whetsell said residential rates will raise to $18.25. The current rate is $15.90. Commercial rates inside city limits will raise to $27.45, and commercial rates outside the city limits will raise to $31.60. The last time garbage rates were raised was in 2007.
Whetsell said training on the new cemetery software was held Wednesday. In March, council voted to purchase the software from CemSites Cemetery Management Software. The software will let the city manage its records and ledgers, map the cemetery, and allow employees to know who is buried, who owns each plot, and map plots that are available for purchase. Maplewood Cemetery covers 21 1/2 acres, with 16 acres developed.
Council also discussed dilapidated buildings. Whetsell said letters are being sent out or delivered to owners of the buildings in question. She said one of the houses, located on Morgantown Street, was foreclosed by WesBanco. Whetsell said several complaints have been received about a house on East Main Street. She said the garage is falling down at the house.
Kingwood Parks and Recreation Supervisor Kevin Stiles is shooting for June 7 to open the pool. He said he now has enough lifeguards to be open 6 days a week.
Stiles also said there are still spots available for those interested in summer camp. He said camp costs $85 per week and includes breakfast, lunch, field trips and some use of the pool. Anyone interested can call 304-329-0856 for more information.
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