Skip to content

Council Hears About Collapsed Culvert

By
MARY ANN ANDERSON
During last Thursday night’s regular monthly meeting of the Hazlehurst City Council, Ricky Lytle, a longtime Hazlehurst business owner and plumber, addressed the council about a collapsed culvert in his West Jefferson Street neighborhood.
“This issue has been going on for five years,” he said, an issue he believes will cause “tremendous catastrophic failure” with the potential collapse of the road.
Lytle told the council that a two-inch, high pressure, gas line running underneath the road has been exposed by the disintegration of the culvert and could become “tremendously deadly,” should a vehicle run over that line or the road cave in, either of which could cause a disastrous explosion. He also noted that raw sewage is “running down the ditch” near West Jefferson, causing sewage flies to swarm his property, but noted emphatically that the problem does not stem from his sewage system.
“It’s a really big issue and totally out of control,” he told the council. “We need to address our water, our sewer and our infrastructure in the City of Hazlehurst. This is the heart of our city.”
Ward 1 Councilman Dywane Johnson assured Lytle that the council and department heads would take care of the matter immediately.
(Editor’s note: the meeting was on Thursday evening and members of the council and several department heads were at the location for repairs Friday morning.)
In other action, the council ….
…. watched as Hazlehurst-Jeff Davis County Fire-Rescue Chief Charles Wasdin congratulated and pinned firefighters David Sellers and Kelvin Wilcox to the rank of lieutenant.
…. agreed to set qualifying fees for the November, 2023, general election for the office of mayor at $360, with fees for council seats in Wards 3 and 4 at $72. Bayne Stone is currently mayor, while Diane Leggett represents Ward 3 and John Bloodworth represents Ward 4.
…. approved the nomination of local business owner Wanda Marchant to the board of the Hazlehurst, Jeff Davis County and Denton Joint Development Authority.
…. because of change in ownership, approved a beer and wine license application for Jacket Stop and Shop.
…. after its second reading by City Attorney Ken W. Smith, approved an ordinance to amend the code of ordinances to provide a new code section as it relates to the City of Hazlehurst being named a City of Ethics by the Georgia Municipal Association (GMA).
…. approved November’s activity report for the Hazlehurst Police Department, water and sewer adjustments, departmental reports and check register.
…. because the mayor and council members are attending the GMA’s Cities United Summit during Jan. 20-23, agreed to reschedule the monthly workshop to Jan. 9, with the regular meeting moved to Jan. 12.

Leave a Comment