Flomaton eyeing downtown help

The town of Flomaton is looking at a price tag of an estimated $214,205 expense to rid Palafox Street from Church Street to Cary Street of utility poles and place those utilities under ground.

Ken Jernigan, who has purchased several buildings in the downtown area, said he received quotes from Alabama Power ($79,671), Spectrum ($65,188) and AT&T ($69,346) to place the utilities under ground.

Jernigan said the quotes he received are good for 90 days.

Jernigan called the current situation an eyesore that hampers businesses along Palafox Street and removing the power poles and placing the utilities under ground is the solution.

“That’s what it’s going to take to clean up that area,” Jernigan said. “We need to do this to proceed.”

The council had previously voted to remove the brick planters that are currently on the sidewalk. Once the utilities are placed under ground the sidewalk can be fixed or replaced.

Jernigan also added he feels Alabama Power is willing to help the town move this project along.

Utilities Superintendent Shaun Moye said the town would still have to pay AT&T and Spectrum to move their lines off of the poles to under ground.

Councilwoman Lillian Dean questioned tearing up part of the sidewalk and then having to come back at a later date to repair the entire street.

Jernigan also noted if the approval was given today, it would still be six months down the road.

“It’s all the beautify what we are trying to do downtown,” Jernigan said.

Mayor Dewey Bondurant, Jr., said he felt it was a great idea but said the town needed time to study the numbers but should have something ready by the next meeting.

“I appreciate what Mr. and Mrs. Jernigan have done,” Bondurant said. “When the overpass came in the 60’s it killed downtown. We now have an opportunity to bring it back.”