A long-term plan to improve streets in the city of Alba gained support from the city council Monday.

Council member Tammy Kirkpatrick has begun the process of cataloging city streets, rating them, identifying the cause of damage to streets (such as flooding and heavy trucks), coming up with a cost estimate for improvements and determining how that will be funded.

“We need to make a commitment on some kind of plan,” City Secretary Lindy McCarty said.

Utility director Paul Kelbe said he had two goals when he took the job, to get the city water supply a superior rating and to improve the streets.

The superior rating has been achieved.

He said he didn’t understand at first what an undertaking it was to improve streets.

The council agreed to review the plan monthly to get it put in place.

Also discussed was contacting the state highway department to see if the speed limit along U.S. Hwy. 69 can be lowered for safer driving around businesses fronting the highway. It is 50 MPH through the city.

The council had a lengthy discussion with Daymon Wallace Jr. who is trying to get a sewer tap to his property off Quitman St.

Kelbe said records show there is a tap for the property, but it cannot be located.

Wallace recounted his efforts of digging a trench to try to locate the old line to no avail.

He agreed to shoot a grade to a secondary location for a tap to see if that will be feasible.

The city may also try to locate a longer sewer camera than the one that is available to see if the tap can be located.

Tim Westervelt addressed the council about the vacancy created when council member Larry Jones moved out of the city.

Westervelt will be filling out an application and the council will consider his appointment at the April meeting. The unexpired term will go until the May 2024 election.