The restoration of the historic Highway 82 bridge will take another step forward at tonight’s Columbus City Council meeting. The council is slated to review project bids and discuss available funding.
The bridge, which spans the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway by the Columbus Riverwalk, will be restored into a pedestrian walkway. The $2.5 million project is being funded by $133,000 apiece from the city of Columbus, Lowndes County and the Columbus-Lowndes Convention and Visitors Bureau. The remainder of the project will be funded by a Mississippi Department of Transportation grant.
The council will also discuss board vacancies for the City Planning Commission, Columbus Municipal School District and Board of Adjustment and Appeals of Development Codes.
There are two vacancies for three-year terms on the City Planning Commission. The terms of board members Wythe Rhett and Phillip Long ended Feb. 1. Both have applied for reappointment.
The city school board has one vacancy for a five-year term. Board member Bruce Hanson’s term expires March 2. Hanson, Jason Spears and James E. Samuel Sr. have applied for the position.
There is one vacancy for a one-year term on the Board of Adjustment and Appeals of Development Codes. Current member Kevin Stafford’s term expires April 6. There is no applicant at this time.
The council will also discuss participation in the Statewide Mutual Aid Compact, a Mississippi Emergency Management Agency program which asks counties to voluntarily offer assistance to nearby counties in the event of a disaster. The state will reimburse wages for employees and a set rate for all equipment used.
A number of travel and training requests from Columbus Fire and Rescue and the Columbus Police Department are also listed on the agenda for approval.
The council meeting will begin at 5 p.m. at the Columbus Municipal Complex.
Carmen K. Sisson is the former news editor at The Dispatch.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 32 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.