A brief Common Council meeting took place Tuesday evening where council held a second reading and public hearing before adopting an ordinance that would close down a portion of Catlett Street in Sedgfield Addition.

During public comments, statements of support and opposition were made.

Mike Lawson, who has a niece who lives on Brammer Street, expressed his concern if the right-of-way were shut off to the public that large trucks and other vehicles would have trouble turning around and proposed a cul de sac be developed at the end of the roadway.

Lawson said he would be willing to pay for the materials, if the city would build it.

Several residence of Catlett Street then stated their support for the ordinance and their opposition to Lawson’s idea.

Pete Staton, who provided a list of signatures of other residents in opposition to developing a cul de sac, approached council stating that a turn around in the intersection of Catlett and Brammer streets was sufficient and expressed his distaste for a cul de sac.

Staton owns property abutting where the possible cul de sac could be built and has had issues over the years with vehicles turning around in his yard and causing damage to his property, he said.

“I don’t feel that someone has the right to bring up a problem that we don’t have,” Staton said. “After 40 to 50 years, if a cul de sac was needed, number one, the city would have done it, and number two, if they hadn’t the residents would have brought it up so it would be done.”

In the past, Staton had put a barrier at the end of the road to keep motorists from turning around on his property.

Johnny McGee, a Catlett Street resident, said he has lived there for close to 40 years. He said the street, how it currently operates, is of no concern to residents.

“There is no parking problem on our street and there is no turnaround problem either,” he stated several times.

On a motion by Councilman at large Tim Berry and a second from both Councilman Mike Atterson and Ron Booker, of Ward IV and V, respectively, the ordinance unanimously passed.

Mayor Emmett Pugh then went on to a resolution supporting Mountain State University. He stated he wished council would adopt the resolution so it could be sent to the school’s general accrediting body, the Higher Learning Commission.

In a resolution, the mayor stated MSU was the “bricks and mortar” higher education facility for the city.

“Mountain State University has provided an opportunity to thousands of students, including a large number of non-traditional students, to obtain a quality college education....This common council recognizes that the students, faculty, and staff are important parts of all facets of the community and contribute to the quality of life we enjoy,” he stated.

“The loss of this university would prevent a large number of non-traditional students from having the opportunity to obtain a college education and would have a devastating impact on this community,” he added.

Councilwoman Anne Worley (Ward II) moved to accept the resolution, and with a second by Atterson, the resolution was unanimously approved, after Booker stated because of a conflict of interest, he would not be voting.

Council will meet again Tuesday, Feb. 28.

—E-mail: Kvanpelt@register-herald.com