BY TRACY LEE TATE
Times Staff Writer
WORTHINGTON SPRINGS — The Town of Worthington Springs is getting ready to begin the engineering phase of a paving project funded by a federally funded Small Cities Community Development Block Grant.
The city has had the grant, which will provide funds up to $600,000, for two years, but has been waiting for some of the property owners to grant the town a deed of easement so that it will be legal for the city to start the project. The property in question are the roads in the Worthington Springs Trailer Park, which has been executed but not yet signed by the town council.
The roads in question have been a topic of conversation in town since the announcement of the paving plans was made, but such use of CDBG funds in completely legal if the city is granted the deed to the property and the residents of the property fall within certain income guidelines. The roads in the trailer park were included in the project due to the condition they are in, which makes access by law enforcement, EMS and fire services difficult, according to Mayor Joan Douglas.
The town council has not yet accepted the easement because it was deemed at the Nov. 1 meeting that the project was not yet at the stage where it was necessary to do so.
Town Clerk Pat Harrell informed council members at this meeting that the engineer for the project, George F. Young, had recommended asking for an extension on the grant, as the delay in getting started had left the town only one year to complete the project.
Once the engineering phase of the project is complete the city can look at the projected cost and see if the grant funds are sufficient to accomplish the work. If this is found to be the case, the city will accept the deed of easement and work will begin.
