Harlem Council projects busy future

Harlem City Council will be very busy for a few years.

A short-term work program, with 31 projects expected to begin or finish over the next five years, is planned.

Shelby Powell, of the CSRA Development Center, attended the Nov. 15 council meeting to present the plan. It was put together with the help of Mayor John Bentley and City Clerk Jean Dove.

The report also includes past accomplishments. A list of projects undertaken from 1997 to 2001 shows where each stands. Of the 14, five are complete. The rest were carried over to the 2002 to 2005 projects.

"We have several going on at the same time," Bentley said.

The projects involve more than $6 million and a lot of time from the council members.

"It is basically putting a lot of hours into them to keep up," Bentley said. "This is full-time job."

Council members break up the projects among themselves. Scott Dean, for instance, spearheaded the City of Ethics project that recently earned Harlem that distinction. Gary Holley is heading the Better Hometown project, which - if awarded - will bring valuable resources in the form of marketing and technical assistance.

The council members don't do all the work, though. The fire department did the research and submitted its proposal for the purchase of a new fire truck - expected to cost $175,000.

Other projects range from construction of a community center to making the library accessible to handicapped.

With the help of council members and Dove, Bentley is confident that Harlem will complete all projects in the plan.

"I don't see any reason why we can't," he said. "The items that we have are things that we need to do to address the growth issue that is coming."

One program that will soon be crossed off the list is the new water tank. Bentley said the new 500,000-gallon water tank will be in operation this week. It will double the water capacity of the city and help alleviate shortage problems during the summer months.

Stop signs:The council passed a resolution to remove the yield sign at the railroad crossing and the stop sign at North Bell Avenue and place stop signs on North Hicks at the intersection of North Bell for traffic traveling in both directions.

Bentley said drivers will have a few days to get accustomed to the change before citations are issued.