The City of Magee is warning residents to know who they are doing business with before they contract with anyone to remove debris like dead trees and large limbs from their property.
According to Shane Steele with the Fire Marshal’s office, a person known as “TK” is going around collecting fees for dealing with debris on private property, then cutting down and moving it to the road for pick up by city workers. The city does not pick up commercially cut debris.
Steele is asking that anyone who may have had business with the person identifying himself as TK contact the Magee Police Department and speak with Officer Sean Cooper or Chief Chris Jones. In addition, TK is operating using someone else’s permit, which is in turn creating issues for that contractor.
The problem is that the job is not being completed and is being left to the city to correct. Steele said that the biggest problem is coming from locals who do a job and expect the city to complete it by picking up the debris.
City workers will remove tree debris for home owners if the limb sizes are not over six inches in width. The problem is that city equipment can not lift some of the larger, heavier limbs that are left curbside.
Contractors should have a permit from the city which outlines work requirements as well as insurance requirements to operate within the city. The permit provides protection for the property owner as well as adjacent property owners.
Steele also indicated that the Fire Marshal’s office should be allowed to file affidavits on property owners who do not conform to city codes. This would allow that office to issue citations that would help solve property maintenance problems. Steele said they would present a recommended procedure for board approval at a future board meeting. He indicated this would give them the same type of authority as law enforcement in regard to property issues.
Steele said his office has also been in contact with owners of local apartment complexes and is requesting video surveillance of property and grounds where recent gunfire has occurred. In one case apartment owners are hiring security officers to shut down the gunfire problems.
The city continues to have issues with Spire Gas and the boring that company is doing in the city. According to the city, the contractor, Southern Cross, drilled into a line at 121 First St. NW resulting in a repair cost of $1,369.40. The company had not requested a map to locate lines before drilling.
Other breaks that have been presented to Spire for repair are Fifth Ave. NE., McLaurin Dr. NE, 12th St. NE, Viste St. NE, McLaurin Dr. NE, McLaurin Dr. NE and 13th St. NE. Mayor Berry said that Spire only conceded that one of the breaks was their fault. The total cost to the city of these repairs is estimated at $10,251.10.
On November 9, Headrick Sign Company drilled through a sewer line with damage estimated at $5,733.25. The city has been advised to file a law suit for recovery.
The Magee Police Department will be receiving three new cruisers that are currently being modified at the dealership. These will be used to replace three of the existing Dodge Chargers in the Police fleet.
Plans are being finalized for paving projects for this budget season that will include 1.5 miles of city streets to be resurfaced. Paperwork is being completed this week and as soon as weather permits the process will start.
The city’s Public Works Department is currently packing up holiday decorations and repairing breaks as well as potholes despite having five employees who are not currently able to work.
The board approved the purchase of a Caterpillar Jack Hammer that attaches to the mini-excavator to speed up demolition and to prolong the life of other equipment. The new equipment costs $5,850.
The airport is currently closed for the next month for anyone other than local pilots. Lights are being converted to LED lighting. Local pilots will be allowed access for day time flights only.
The most recent census figures have recorded Magee’s population at 3,997. With four city wards, the ideal population for each ward would be 999. Ward 4 is 82 percent black, Ward 1 is 69 percent white, Ward 2 is 51 percent white and Ward 3 is 50 percent black. Population from the last census ten years ago listed Magee’s population just shy of 4,200.
Many questions have surrounded the accuracy of the population figures that were accounted for during Covid-19.
