Murfreesboro Mayor Shane McFarland took questions from local residents last Wednesday (8/12/2015) on the WGNS' Action Line radio broadcast. As in the past, the mayor contacts officials in city departments for accurate responses. Here are the results of some questions, just hours after the program was aired.
Here are the questions that listeners phoned to Mayor McFarland on the "live" WGNS radio program.
1). Haynes and Thompson Lane signal and work green light a little longer.
Not sure what the question is. Question does not indicate whether the caller is wanting more green time on Thompson or conversely Haynes Drive. The green timing is adjusted about as well as it can be given the two lane highway and heavy traffic volume. The inability to handle the traffic as it exist is why we are pursuing the widening of Thompson Lane from 2 to 5 lanes. The environmental study and preliminary engineering is currently being conducted by TDOT. The design public meeting for this project was held on 6/2/15. Design work continues.
2). Ditches and medians looking great! Great job to urban environmental.
Mayor McFarland is having this issue studied at this time.
3). Hill Lane. Ernest Burgess. Road needs mowing.
Mayor McFarland is having this issue studied at this time.
4). Wingate Street: Highland Park.... Junk in the subdivision
We found that we have an existing case for open storage at 1011 Wingate that we started July 29, 2015, and as a result of the listener's call to WGNS, a case for weeds and grass at 2322 Sycamore and 1019 Wingate have been opened, along with weeds and grass plus open storage at 2222 Sycamore and open storage at 2322 Sycamore. We did find another property that had opened storage; however it appears that someone is moving in and we will re-check it next week; if it is still in violation start a case for that property."
5). John Rice road fix with the county
Regarding John Rice Boulevard, we have a contract from SEC for the Council's
consideration to widen the road to 3 lanes with curb and gutter and
sidewalks. SEC completed a planning report a few years ago which
recommended the improvements. While the engineering is currently funded,
the ROW acquisition and construction is not proposed to be funded until the
2016 loan pending Council approval. The County has previously agreed to
fund a portion of the construction.
If funding continues as currently proposed, construction could begin as
early as the summer of 2017.
6) How high does the grass have to be before you get an ordinance.
I am not sure I understand Item #6. If the question is; how high the grass must be to be out of compliance with our weeds and grass ordinance; the answer is that for "lots less than two acres; the grass must be maintained 12" or less at all times. For lots 2 acres or more and are undeveloped the grass must be mowed twice a year between March 1 and November 30 and the mowing's must be at least 3 months apart. Where the large tract abuts developed residential property; a 50 foot strip must be maintained at 12" or less all the time. Property can be maintained by mowing, clipping or by chemical means to stay in compliance with this ordinance. When a property is identified by the Property Maintenance Inspector as out of compliance; a notice from the Building and Codes Department will be sent to the owner advising them of the violation and allows 20 days to bring the property into compliance."
7). Ditch Maintenance: county farm road: 462 county farm road
Mayor McFarland is having this issue studied at this time.
8). Church Street: ramp over to the pilot station. Butler drive can we keep trucks from crossing over to the pilot station?
We cannot keep trucks from crossing over to the Pilot station. However, the City has been working with TDOT over the last several years to try and address this (and other issues) in this general vicinity. This has resulted in a safety improvement project that is currently under construction wherein the eastbound I-24 ramp to southbound I-24 will be signalized to provide three right turn lanes from the eastbound I-24 ramp. This will assure that when the trucks exit the ramps that traffic southbound on Church Street will be stopped to help aid in the crossing.
9). Traffic light on Thompson lane and Leanna road?
The City previously conducted traffic counts on Thompson and Leanna Road and this location did not meet signal warrants at that time. We will restudy this location and see if the growth now provides the required justification. In the longer term, signalization is planned at this location in the Thompson Lane widening project. Since this will be several years in the future, the City may likely undertake an intersection improvement project prior to the overall widening project to provide signalization when and if a signal is warranted.
10). New Salem Road update.
This project has been put on hold by TDOT and is not currently in TDOT's capital improvement project list. The Governor and TDOT Commissioner are currently conducting speaking tours across the state to discuss the transportation funding crisis and hopefully this may yield some solutions to address the current roadway funding deficit.
11). Across the street from 1027 west Main Street: apple trees hanging down under the sidewalks.
There are approximately 10-12 mature Bradford Pear trees and 1 large Maple tree with low hanging limbs over the public sidewalk in that area that are blocking visibility and impeding the circulation of an apartment complex across from 1027 W. Main St. The UED Tree Crew will need to elevate each tree to a minimum of 7' above the sidewalk. The work should be completed by the end of day on Monday, August 17th.
