Murphysboro chooses streets, intersections to repair first

The Murphysboro City Council voted to begin repairs on four street and intersection projects chosen at last week's monthly meeting.

Those areas are Shoemaker Drive, Hanson Street, the intersection of Spruce and Oak streets, and Gartside to North 22nd Street.

The total cost of these repairs is $315,428.70.

"It took several meetings, six or seven, to settle on these streets to be repaired," Mayor Will Stephens said. "We wanted to spread them out around town a little bit, taking care of streets in various wards in the city, one in each quadrant."

The council considered repairs on 20th Street, but put that project aside until planned sewer work is completed on that street.

The council voted to move forward on bidding for repairs to the streets and intersections discussed.

On a related note, council members discussed recent complaints about potholes in town.

Council repeals no-parking ordinance

In February, the Murphysboro City Council voted four to three to eliminate one parking spot on the east side of 10th Street, just north of Locust, in order to alleviate a problem brought to the council by Barbara Dallas, who was involved in a serious accident there.

On Tuesday, the council voted to repeal the no-parking ordinance.

This move came after street department workers painted yellow stripes on that portion of the parking spaces that were too close to the intersection, according to current law that prohibits parking within 20 feet of one.

Several business owners had expressed their opposition to the ordinance since passed. Aldermen Gary McComb, Dan Bratton and W.J. Pittman voted no on the original ordinance.

The council voted Tuesday to repeal the no-parking ordinance and let the markings stand to take care of the matter.