City adopts ordinance regulating large trucks on city roads

Published 10:03 am Tuesday, August 4, 2015

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The city of Jemison adopted an ordinance Monday regulating large trucks traveling residential streets.

Council members unanimously voted to adopt an ordinance prohibiting trucks with more than two axles and/or a maximum gross weight of 20,000 pounds or more.

According to the resolution, numerous complaints have been filed with members of the city council by residents in Jemison concerning problems resulting from trucks using residential streets.

The trucks are also parking in some areas, causing problems with residents, the resolution states.

Mayor Eddie Reed said the trucks could cause serious damage to the roads or to public safety in the residential areas.

“This is a problem that we have been dealing with in the city,” Reed said.

The city is required to post signs near the roads where the trucks are prohibited from driving to alert truck drivers they are not allowed to drive on particular roads in the city.

Reed told the council if there were no signs posted, the resolution could not be enforced.

If a truck is found to be in violation of the resolution, the truck driver could be fined no less than $25 and no more than $500.

The resolution does not prohibit emergency vehicles, public utility trucks, detoured trucks, sanitation trucks, school buses or special delivery trucks (construction, moving, etc.).

Reed clarified for the council that the resolution could only be enforced on city streets. If a truck is found traveling on a state route or a county road within the city, the resolution does not apply.

In other news, the council:

•Amended an ordinance setting fees for the sanitary sewer system for the city.

•Met in an executive session for about 15 minutes to discuss the consideration the governmental body would be willing to offer or accept when considering the purchase, sale, exchange, lease, or market value of real property. No action was taken when the executive session convened into the regular meeting.

•Heard from council member George Brasher, who suggested the council work to better promote an annual Gospel Music Singing to benefit disabled veterans. The event was held July 31-Aug. 1 at the Jemison City Hall Auditorium featuring Heaven’s Strings, God’s Deliverance, and Spoken for Samaritans. Brasher said he thought the council could help promote the event more next year to help increase attendance.

•Voted to pay all necessary bills and approved the council minutes from July 6.