“We hope this never happens again”

The Seneca project to build a utilities complex in a neighborhood where it is not wanted is on an indefinite hold. In the meantime, a committee representing both the city and the homeowners will try for a resolution or a compromise. Mayor Dan Alexander made the announcement at last night’s city council meeting where protesters from Adams subdivision created standing room-only. Several people were left to take in the meeting from the City Hall corridor. For the protesters, it was their first official chance to vent to the mayor and the full city council. Speaker after speaker laid out why the new location for Light and Water and all of its heavy equipment is inappropriate for a quiet, single-family neighborhood with an historic past. Mayor Alexander categorized what they said as having registered with him and the council to give enough pause and knowledge of some things of which he and the council had previously not thought of it. It was then the mayor turned to Councilman Scott Durham whose motion made for the only official action on the matter. Durham suggested a committee of eight people—four from the city and four from the neighborhood. The motion passed unanimously with an amendment by Councilman Al Gaines to expand the committee to 12 people. That deadline for that committee’s report is city council’s regular January meeting.