Midway officials are especially looking forward to Thanksgiving this year; they plan to observe the holiday in their newly completed city hall multi-complex.
Architect Judson Bryant, Midway’s consultant on the project, told the Midway City Council Monday that the project will be finished in October but he allows time for last minute details to be worked. A new city hall has been a top priority for Midway since 2011. Bryant said he and the general contractor and the project architect would donate a lighted flagpole to be placed in front of the new building.
At present, Midway rents office space in Midway Mall and holds official meetings in the courtroom of the police department building at 10490 E. Oglethorpe Highway.
Also Monday the council heard from Larry Logan, county emergency management director, who explained the county’s two hurricane evacuation zones, answered questions and distributed printed materials to inform the public. Hurricane season is from June 1 through November.
Engineer Trent Long told the council that the water flow meter project at I-95 and Islands Highway is “basically completed.” The new meter is intended to end water and wastewater cost disputes between the Liberty County Development Authority and Midway over the services they share. The issue has been in dispute for at least 12 years.
The bad condition of Edgewater Drive was the subject of another presentation by Long. Midway had planned to use part of its skimpy Local Maintenance and Improvement Grant from the Department of Transportation to repair a short stretch of the street but after discussion rejected all bids for the project.
Edgewater Drive issues are so bad that the council and Long want to develop a solution that will be better than merely replacing a small portion of the street. They decided to bank their LMIG funds for another year in hopes of being able to afford more work on Edgewater.
Long said the typical section of Edgewater was, “The way they built roads back in the 1990s--not very thick base and not very thick pavement.” The street gives access to Midway Middle School and Liberty Elementary School as well as increasing traffic from residential developments.
Long said he and Midway could look for other funds to help with the Edgewater work needed. Sometimes there is excess safety money and extra LMIG funds from jurisdictions that do not use them available. Edgewater could be included as a Transportation Special Local Option Sales Tax project if Liberty County voters approve that extra tax.
School buses and other school traffic are a large share of the load on Edgewater, according to officials. Long said, “I understand the board of education is not able to spend their money in that fashion.”
“We can put together a package and ask DOT to help us with this,” Long said, “A white paper or whatever it takes.” In the meantime minimal patching will be done on Edgewater
“Now we’re talking about small patching,” Long said, “Just filling the holes.” He said he will contact, “some guys who can get out there right away.” Officials had hoped to complete the Edgewater before the start of school because of the very heavy traffic the two schools bring.
Parker can be contacted by email at joeparkerjr@hotmail.com.