The southern end of Faisonia Avenue in Indianola continues to be a hot topic of conversation among city leaders.
Indianola Ward 1 Alderman Gary Fratesi voiced concerns this past Monday night about the area in general, including the nearby tennis courts and the street itself.
City Engineer Ron Cassada said that the city previously planned for the Public Works department to do the exploratory work to try and find the root cause of soil erosion that has plagued the area, but the department, he said, has been too busy with other projects within the city.
“My recommendation is that we move forward with the contractor at this point,” Cassada said.
Cassada received an hourly rate from Avis Construction that he said he would share with City Clerk Kaneilia Williams for discussion at the next city board meeting.
“Avis Construction is ready to move in at any time and start doing the exploratory work,” Cassada said.
He explained that a drainage pipe was the reason for the hole near the tennis court.
“I’ve brought it up several times, and we can lose a kid in that hole,” Fratesi said.
Cassada said he wanted to get the board’s approval before moving forward.
Fratesi asked if he could make the motion to contract with Avis Construction.
City Attorney Kimberly Merchant said he could not make the motion, because it was not an item on the agenda.
Since they were discussing departmental reports, he did not have the ability to take action.
Fratesi was not the only person concerned about the sink holes. There were also some concerned citizens in the audience who spoke up while the issue was on the table.
“I want to put a lil more emphasis on Faisonia,” Barbara McDaniel-Suggs said from the audience. “Some of us are here tonight with specific concerns, because it’s been going on for a while, and I’ve been reading in the paper.”
McDaniel-Suggs said she spoke with the former mayor, Fratesi and others about the matter.
“I don’t think that it’s being given, I guess, the real importance it should be given,” McDaniel-Suggs said. “We’re about to have a serious situation there on Faisonia, and while the city is directly concerned about it. As homeowners we are directly being affected by it. We need somebody to move on this.”
Mayor Ken Featherstone said they would have a chance to voice their concerns at a different time.
“I promise to make this the first item we have when we have the open forum for citizens,” Featherstone said.
The board of aldermen plans to take action on this issue during the next board meeting as well.
