Discussion on the proposal to change the four-lane section of N. Jackson Street to a two-lane dominated the Magnolia City Council meeting held at 5:00 p.m. yesterday in the City Council Chambers. The stretch of N. Jackson in question runs from Columbia Street north through the Southern Arkansas University campus to the U.S. Hwy. 82 intersection. A large crowd was on hand to hear the proposals and several people addressed the council.
The council quickly disposed of old business and moved into the new business items on its agenda. Up first was a resolution to condemn a structure located at 711 Gladys St. After that resolution was passed, the council approved the appointment of Doug McCrary and Steve Card to the Airport Commission. Both appointees are employed by large companies in Magnolia, and have an interest in promoting the local airport for the economic benefit of the city and surrounding area.
After the new business was completed, Ellie Baker, Magnolia Community Relations Advisor and Assistant to City Hall, came before the council to explain to the public how the idea for changing N. Jackson began. She had attended and graduated from a program held by the Community Development Institute and, in a tour held in conjunction with the class, visited Hendrix College in Conway. The college had used bike and walking trails to connect it to town and used greenery to enhance the appeal of the street. Since one of the ideas suggested for community development in Magnolia was to connect SAU to the downtown area, she thought this would be a great way to do it.
Baker also cited safety concerns for SAU students who have to cross N. Jackson to get to new buildings on the west side of the campus as another factor in the proposal. The suggested changes would also encourage biking and walking, which would lead to a healthier lifestyle, and it would create places that foster livability, she stated.
Mayor Parnell Vann explained that nothing was written in stone, and that he and the council wanted to hear from the people about the proposal. One citizen came to the podium to oppose the proposal for the city to take the highway from the state as the city would have to take on maintenance of the streets. The decision to take the streets in question had already been approved at the last council meeting.
Charles Trexler, a business owner on N. Jackson, submitted a written statement and came before the council to voice his concerns about the project. His main concerns were traffic flow and safety. The green space that was a part of the proposal could affect the visibility of his business, and the lack of a center lane could cause traffic to back up at certain times of the day, he said. In his statement he also expressed a safety issue with vehicles having to turn right across bicycle lanes. Several council members voiced their approval for a center turn lane that would alleviate most of his concerns.
Mayor Vann addressed a number of these concerns. “The city worked with the highway department to lower costs on the movement of utilities in the new construction project on Hwy. 82 and, during this process, the department came up with a plan to give N. Jackson St. and E. Main St. to the city. The state will make the streets brand new and we will have control over them. We are trying to bring in more revenue. And we won’t do anything without the blessing of the people.”
Following the discussion on the proposed changes on N. Jackson, Councilman Steve Crowell announced a new plan to recognize a Citizen of the Month in Magnolia. “Citizens who are active and serve the community sometimes don’t get the recognition they deserve, and we want to change that,” he said.
Pastor B.J. Harris of Bethlehem Baptist Baptist Church was selected as the first winner of the new award, and was recognized and presented with a certificate from the council on his service to the Magnolia community. Harris was born in Magnolia, and graduated from Columbia High School. He attended Henderson State College for a year before joining the United States Air Force for a four year enlistment. He also received B.S. and M.S. degrees in theology from the United Theological Seminary and Bible College in El Dorado, and a doctoral degree from Texarkana Baptist Seminary. Harris has been active in the community for many years.