The city council finally decided Tuesday how it will divide funding for another $1.1 million in paving projects, but the decision did not come without controversy.

At Ward 5 Councilman Stephen Jones’ urging, the council voted 5-1 during its regular meeting at the Municipal Complex to pave Military Road, between Third and 18th Avenue North, and split the remainder of the funds among the six wards.

City Engineer Kevin Stafford estimated the Military Road stretch would cost roughly $360,000, leaving each councilman $123,000 to pave streets in their ward.

“I know some of the other wards got money off the top last time, and we did not,” Jones said after making his motion, referring to the $6.9 million in paving projects approved for 2024 and funded through the city’s internet use tax revenue.

The city has $500,000 left over from its 2024 program, which has already been split among the council members. It received another $1.1 million in use tax funds in January. Since then, Stafford has been pushing the council to capitalize on a buyer’s paving market.

“Prices are still good. Oil and gas are still down,” he said. “… Give us a month and a half, and we can have bids on the street so y’all can continue to take advantage of the good pricing market that we’re in right now.”

But Rusty Greene, councilman for Ward 3, wanted the council to play by the same rules it did in 2024 – “taking off the top” streets deemed in need of repair that see a daily traffic count of 5,000 or more, regardless of ward, then dividing what was left six ways. He offered a substitute motion to continue that policy.

Doing that would mean two streets in Ward 3 would come off the top: Military Road, from Lowe’s Home Improvement to Ridge Road; and 18th Avenue, from Sixth to Seventh Street North.

Including the Military Road stretch in Jones’ ward, Stafford said taking all three projects off the top would cost about $561,000 and leave each councilman with $90,000 from what’s left.

“The reason we took the 5,000 number of traffic is because those are obviously the most used roads in the city,” Greene said. “… Everyone under this policy will benefit from the most used streets (being paved).”

Ward 2 Councilman Joseph Mickens, noting he agreed to receive at least $200,000 less than other wards in the last paving cycle, didn’t seem to like where the conversation was going.

“Can I have mine off the top for Ward 2?” he asked, laughing.

Mickens later implored his colleagues to “be fair like I was fair.”

“I want y’all to know the traffic coming through there is no more important than the traffic that comes through Gaylane (Drive) for the people who live there,” he said. “… Their street, to them, is just as important as those are.”

Greene’s substitute motion died without a second. When Mayor Keith Gaskin asked Mickens if he wanted to offer his own substitute, he declined.

Then Jones’ original motion, seconded by Ward 1 Councilwoman Ethel Stewart, passed with only Greene opposed.

Fossil park

The council Tuesday voted unanimously to enter an agreement allowing the Columbus Cultural Heritage Foundation to be the fiscal agent for certain grants and fundraising related to the fossil park.

Susan Wilder, the city’s grant administrator, told the council at its Thursday work session that some grants the city is seeking to build the $700,000 fossil park on the Luxapalila Creek near Propst Park require the funds to pass through a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. CCHF was a “perfect fit,” she said, because it also holds a sales tax license and can sell fossil park apparel and souvenirs at the Tennessee Williams Home and Welcome Center downtown.

Also related to the fossil park, the council accepted a sculpture donation of a baby ornithomimosaur from Georgia artist Rick Spears. The sculpture will be raffled off as a fundraiser for the fossil park.

Legal ads

In other business, the council rejected bids from both The Columbus Packet and The Commercial Dispatch for legal ads the city is required by state law to publish. The city puts the contract out for bid annually with the lowest bidder typically prevailing.

This year, The Packet was the low bidder. Ward 6 Councilwoman Jacqueline DiCicco moved to accept the bid. But Mickens, with a second from Ward 4 Councilman Pierre Beard, offered a substitute motion to award the contract to The Commercial Dispatch.

Earlier in the meeting, Beard criticized The Packet’s coverage of the recent flooding in Columbus, calling it inaccurate. He also called out the publication for not contacting public officials for comment when writing articles about them.

City Attorney Jeff Turnage advised the council to “go with the lowest and best bid” for legal ads “even if you don’t like the publication.”
“You can reject all bids and advertise, but I don’t see how you can legally go with the higher bid,” Turnage said.

Mickens amended his substitute motion, opting to reject all bids and advertise, which passed 4-2. DiCicco and Greene opposed.

Zack Plair is the managing editor for The Dispatch.