By Ronica Shannon
Register News Writer
RICHMOND —
A recent door-to-door excursion by a Richmond city commissioner was a way to say “Thank You,” rather than take credit for city services, he said.
Several Richmond residents received a flier from Commissioner Mike Brewer about the recent paving of 23 city streets.
“I hope paving your street has made your life easier,” the flier read. “I want to thank you for being so patient.”
The flier contained a photo of Brewer with his name and title underneath.
Commissioner Rita Smart said in last week’s commission work session that she had been asked by several citizens if Brewer had more influence than other commissioners when it came to getting the streets paved.
After Brewer left printed messages at the homes on streets that were paved, Smart said she wanted to make clear that no commissioner had any more influence than the other in deciding which streets were paved.
“We really didn’t have a role in deciding what got paved,” Smart said.
Brewer and Smart said commissioners were asked to submit a list of streets in the city that needed resurfacing.
However, Interim City Manager Jimmy Howard said he first learned of the list this year and was not sure of its origin.
“I don’t know who created that list,” said Howard, who said commissioners may have created the list prior to him becoming interim city manager.
After finding the list, it was reviewed by Howard and Richmond Road Department Supervisor Sid Rawlins, who looked at each road and made the final decision as to which streets should be paved.
Commissioners then were shown a plan of what streets were going to be paved, and asked if there were any streets they would like to add to the list, Howard said.
“Nobody said: ‘You do that street,’” he said. “I do remember the mayor saying we have to do S. Keeneland Drive, and she was right.”
For the past few weeks, Brewer has been going door-to-door in the neighbors that received newly paved streets.
“We waited so long to have these streets paved, and I thanked them for their patience,” Brewer said. “They were in bad need of repair and pavement.”
All commissioners have an opportunity to reach out to the public, he said.
“I don’t take credit myself,” Brewer said. “Any commissioner can feel free to do what I did.”
As for how the resurfacing project was funded, the money was made available to the city through MAP (Municipal Aid Program) funds which is to be used for streets, including resurfacing and salt for winter.
The city paid $547,287.98 to the Allen Company for the milling and resurfacing of the streets, Howard said.
Ronica Shannon can be reached at rshannon@richmondregister.comor 624-6608.
