Bethlehem intersection solution being reviewed

The town intends to have the bidders engineer the plan, draw up a blueprint and have it approved by the GDOT. This way, the study will have everything in place as far as meeting the requirements for the traffic signal. This will ensure that when the time comes to install the signal, the GDOT will have a set of plans that have already been approved.

Bids received ranged in estimate from $25,000 to $60,000, and additions necessary include turning lanes on Star Street.

Mayor Sandy McNab said that Bethlehem has been trying since it’s first council meeting over 50 years ago to get a traffic signal at that intersection and the town’s made little progress.

“We just keep running into a wall everywhere we turn,” he said. “You’ve got Harrison Poultry down here and you’ve got tractor trailers coming in and out and everything.”

The town will continue reviewing bids and make a decision at its next meeting.

Proposal Denied
At the town’s March meeting, it was proposed to privatize Bethlehem’s planning and inspection services with MDA out of Suwannee, however the council denied this proposal.

The county currently performs those services and also receives any fees the town collects for them and the council decided to continue having the county provide the services.

On the table, was that for 80 percent of the fees the town collects for the services, MDA would provide plan reviews; stormwater/engineering reviews and analyses; building plan reviews and building and site development inspections.

For an additional hourly fee, it was proposed that MDA could handle code enforcement; the evaluation and revision of ordinances and land-use management codes; rezoning proposals; planning services/mapping; and grant research and writing.

Not until after much discussion and considering tabling the decision did the council decide to take action and deny the proposal, opting to remain with the county.

Other Business
In other business at the Bethlehem Town Council meeting Monday night:

•a rezoning request was approved for 13 West Star Street. The property was previously zoned O-I and is now C-2. The new business will be a photography shop called Digital Creations 4U.

•a first round of ”Notices of Violation” were sent out on March 11, informing residents that they had 30-days to haul junk creating eye sores away. Many of the residents have begun taking the steps necessary to comply or have done so already. The residents have until the end of this week to comply. They will face a fine of up to $1,000 that could be coupled with 60 days in jail for every day past the deadline.

•in an effort to help residents comply and help other residents rid their property of any junk piling up, the town will plan a “Clean-up Day.” The regular trash pick-up crew will haul away anything that is placed by the curb, with the exception of tires and paint. Residents who choose to participate will be charged a flat fee of $15, however those residents who do not participate will not be charged. The date is still to be determined, but Town Clerk Kathy Bridges will be mailing out notices informing residents of the exact date of the clean-up, tentatively slated for one Friday in April.

•the council approved a motion to renew its contract with the Industrial Authority for $1,500, which is the same price as last year.

•after last year’s band at the Bethlehem Festival canceled at the last minute, the town decided to hire a band for this year’s festival. No band has been decided upon, but the council has several it will review and make a decision choosing one at its next meeting.