A bridge inside the city limits has been shut down by Senatobia officials for the second time in five years after it was deemed unsafe during a recent routine inspection.
Mayor Greg Graves confirmed the City of Senatobia received a critical finding report Wednesday, Dec. 3 from the Office of State Aid Road Construction (OSARC) stating the Shands Bottom Road bridge that spans over Senatobia Creek near Interstate 55 south of BankFirst Yards Sportsplex has severe erosion issues undermining both ends of the bridge in the vehicle wheel path.
In an attached letter, officials from OSARC stated the city “needed to have a plan in place by Wednesday, Dec. 17 detailing its intentions for the bridge and immediate repair is necessary for it to remain open.”
Senatobia’s Board of Aldermen unanimously agreed Tuesday, Dec. 16 to close the bridge indefinitely and allow time to gather recommendations from engineers for options to make the bridge safe for public travel.
“There is not currently any grant or state aid money available to fix it, so all repairs at this time would come out of the city’s pocket,” Mayor Graves said.
The critical findings report states an erosion hole measuring eight-feet long, four-feet wide and six-feet deep was discovered in the southwest corner of the bridge near previously placed riprap. The report also says erosion is encroaching on the roadway causing asphalt failure within the curb-to-curb driving surface and has undermined asphalt up to 10 inches toward the roadway centerline.
In December 2020, Senatobia city leaders agreed to close the Shands Bottom Road bridge after erosion issues were uncovered on the east end during an inspection by OSARC. The bridge reopened six months later after a polyfoam product was installed to correct the problem underneath the road leading to the bridge.
In May 2021 an engineer told Senatobia aldermen, who contemplated permanently removing the bridge, it would cost approximately $500,000 to $600,000 for a full replacement. Graves estimates the replacement cost has risen significantly since then.
The bridge on Shands Bottom Road was constructed in 1993, and an average of 110 vehicle cross it each day according to the Mississippi Office of State Aid Road Construction website.
In other business, aldermen approved the following items:
• Minutes from the regular mayor and board of aldermen meeting Dec. 2.
• Minutes from the special mayor and board of aldermen meeting Dec. 8.
• Minutes from the special mayor and board of aldermen meeting Dec. 10.
• Docket of claims 41173 through 41328 for a total of $647,470.44.
• Donation of $100 from Walmart for police department to purchase SWAT team uniforms and equipment.
• Donation of $500 from Fresh Garden Market for police department to purchase SWAT team uniforms and equipment.
• Donation of $100 from May’s Pharmacy for police department to purchase SWAT team uniforms and equipment.
• Donation of $500 from Extreme Auto Sales for police department to purchase SWAT team uniforms and equipment.
• Police Officer Goss, Officer Smith, Lt. Howell and Officer Dover to attend FBI LEEDA class Dec. 15-20 and pay registration.
• Reimburse Court Clerk Tameka Herron travel expenses for attending the Court Seminar on Dec. 16, in Oxford.
• Firefighter Bedford Hunt to attend Fire Officer Level 1 training in Pearl on Jan. 26-29 and pay registration and travel expenses.
• Firefighter Jayden Sanders to attend Hazmat Awareness and Operations training in Pearl on March 23-26 and pay registration and travel expenses.
• Firefighter Evan Gilder to attend Truck Company Operations training in Pearl on March 16-19 and pay registration and travel expenses.
• Firefighter Ellis Brown to attend Swift Water training in Pearl on May 4-22 and pay registration and travel expenses.
• Firefighter Bedford Hunt to attend Chemistry of Hazmat training in Pearl on June 15-25 and pay registration and travel expenses.
• City Clerk Katie Harbin and Deputy City Clerk Francis Johnson to attend annual International Institute of Municipal Clerks Conference in Reno, Nevada on May 16-22 and pay registration and travel expenses.
• Mayor, board of aldermen, city attorney and department heads to attend annual Mississippi Municipal League Conference in Biloxi on June 28-July 2 and pay registration and travel expenses.
• City Court Clerk Tameka Herron to attend Municipal Court Clerks Conference on June 28-July 2 in Biloxi and pay registration and travel expenses.
• City Attorney Kenneth Stockton to attend Municipal Attorneys Conference on June 28-July 2 in Biloxi and pay registration and travel expenses.
• Mayor Graves to execute a quitclaim deed to the Senatobia Municipal School District for the high school football field in accordance with a lease purchase agreement.
• Minor lot request for 539 Stage Road by Shane Baltz previously approved by planning commission.
• Advertise for municipal depository services with bids due Jan. 13.
