CORBIN — By Adam Sulfridge / Staff Writer

Williamsburg City Council members took the first steps toward closing a road, approved spending of $91,000 to appease Kentucky’s Energy and Environment Cabinet, and set spring cleanup dates during the council’s monthly meeting Monday.

Kyle Gilbert, a vice president at University of the Cumberlands, approached the council with a plan to close a section of Cumberland Avenue inside the university’s campus. A letter from the college stated that the roadway was low-lying and “floods quite often.” According to Gilbert, with the city’s permission, Cumberlands would pay to have half the roadway raised to prevent flooding and widened to accommodate two-way traffic. After half of the road was closed off, though, the widened and raised section would dead-end at a Cumberlands parking lot.

“I think the public should just be notified,” said Councilman Richard Foley.

Mayor Harrison and the council agreed, noting that a public hearing would be held prior to approving a motion to “close and deaden” half of the roadway.

Next, Mayor Harrison told the council of several steps city employees had taken to correct storm and sewer water-related issues.

“The amount of rainfall we’ve had this year has brought forward the problem of storm water getting into our sewer… We knew we had a problem already, so we started addressing some of the problems on our own,” he said.

According to Harrison, the state criticized the city’s attempts to prevent storm and sewer water from mixing and also issued to the city a notice of violation.

“I guess we didn’t address (the problems) to their satisfaction,” he said.

Representatives from HDR Quest Engineers, Inc. attended the meeting to explain steps the city would have to take to avoid being fined by the state. The first three steps necessary to avoid fines and further violations would cost around $91,000, according to a document handed out by the representatives.

Harrison noted, “We’re not the only town going through this,” and an HDR Quest official confirmed that the city of Lexington was likely spending upwards of a million dollars to comply with similar orders Williamsburg needed to comply with.

Using money secured by the city and tentatively budgeted for other projects, Harrison said the city could cover the $91,000 costs. Future expenses associated with complying with the state’s orders have yet to be determined, and Harrison said the city will try to find grant monies to help cover those costs.

The council also proclaimed the March Pride Month and scheduled the city’s annual Spring Cleanup. From March 29 through April 9, residents on the Highland Park side of Williamsburg can put bulky items out beside the road for pickup by city workers. Residents on the other side of town, the downtown side, can do the same April 12-23.

Collecting extra trash, especially large items, typically costs residents extra, but during the spring cleanup period, no additional fees will be accessed. For more information about what items will be accepted, call city hall at 606-549-6033.

Council members also discussed a variety of other, smaller concerns, such as sidewalk repair. Councilman J.L. Hamblin asked Williamsburg police to ticket anybody who parks on a city sidewalk, and he said it was a problem along Third Street.

Councilwoman Erica Harris noted that business advertisements were resurfacing around town despite a city ordinance preventing advertisements on utility poles or within 10 feet of the roadway.

Harrison said commercial advertisements were not the only items restricted by the ordinance.

“If you’re going to put up an election sign, it has to be 10 feet from the roadway, even on personal property,” he said.