By Gary Lloyd
CLAY — The Jefferson County Board of Education last Thursday voted to transfer Cougar Drive to the city of Clay.
Cougar Drive is currently a private road belonging to the board of education. The transfer to the city of Clay means the city will maintain the road, which stretches from Deerfoot Parkway to Trussville-Clay Road in front of Clay-Chalkville High School and Clay-Chalkville Middle School.
Jefferson County Schools Director of New Construction Rafael McDaniel said there are “tentative plans” for the city of Clay to install street lights on the road, but it must first belong to the city.
Clay-Chalkville High School
photo courtesy of Jefferson County Schools
Clay City Manager Ronnie Dixon said that Mayor Charles Webster had a conversation with APCO about lighting the sidewalks with decorative lamp posts and Cougar Drive with regular street lights. The sidewalks were completed in 2011.
Dixon said it’s “cost prohibitive” without a grant, so the city will pursue a Safe Routes to School grant and add more street lights if needed. Dixon said the city needs to be able to post speed limits and enforce them, add center line reflectors and more.
“Safety, as always, is the issue,” Dixon said.
Contact Gary Lloyd at news@trussvilletribune.com and follow him on Twitter @GaryALloyd.
