On Tuesday the Gosnell City Council met to discuss plans for Gosnell's future.
Councilman Eric Blount, who will no longer be serving on the council after the year is completed, stated that he hopes that the council can continue to hold an open discussion about issues that come to the table without getting angry with one another.
He stated that he would continue to have a presence in Gosnell and that there was no animosity between him or any others on the council.
Gosnell Mayor Don Marshall discussed the street lights at Quality Acres.
He stated that the property owner was not current on his bill and therefore the city was asked to take responsibility for the property's 20 lights. It would cost the city approximately $2,000 to $3,000 per year.
Marshall stated that the bill has since been paid by the property owner and so a decision is not yet necessary; however, the council should keep in mind the possibility of it coming up in the future.
Marshall also mentioned that a "Mrs. Mays" was not able to attend the meeting and that she had brought up an issue of attaching lights to stop signs with certain areas of the city to help bring more awareness to the signs.
Marshall stated that there was a law that currently prohibited the city from placing lights on street signs within the city. Marshall stated that he considered giving the Gosnell Police Department the ability to place temporary lights on certain intersections; however, after he thought more about it he realized that if one intersection received lighting then all intersections would be requesting it.
"I'm going to leave that to you guys and if she wants to show back up and get put on the agenda. I think this all got started with one of her pets getting hit. I didn't want to say this, but I have had four people contact me and say that the dog is never on a leash. We need to step back and look at this," Marshall said.
The council discussed the possibility of an increased police presence in the area with one councilman saying that this started with a pet, but it could have been a child.
The council talked about different possibilities and solutions to discourage speeding throughout town.
Marshall also said that he is currently working on the city's 2019 budget and hopes to have it finished soon.
Blount also mentioned that several citizens have approached him and asked about returning trash pick up in the city.
He stated that residents have talked to him about how they would be willing to pay more for garbage and trash services if they returned trash pick up.
Marshall said that the decision would be up to the council; however, he felt like the current method for the service was providing more money to the city and freeing up the city employees to be able to do more work throughout the city.
gwilliams@blythevillecourier.com