 |
|
|
|
 |
 |
New 20 Million Dollar School May Not Be Usable
Leeds Mayor Eric Patterson is still waiting for promised bond money to build it. But he says if work doesn't begin by Saturday, there may be no high school for the students to safely get to.
The 20 million dollar Leeds High School is done. But there's a slight logistical issue.
"Here we are August 10th when they are going to open but we don't have a road. All we have is a dirt road sitting out here," said Mayor Patterson.
He says the city spent nearly two million dollars buying the land and setting up utilities and was told in November bond money would cover the remaining cost of 1.2 million. But he doesn't have the money and road construction will take six weeks.
"We are going to have a hard time opening because the other options aren't safe," said the mayor.
An existing back road to the school isn't wide enough for two cars and has large curves and drop offs. And using the old high school isn't an option.
"I don't know where they are going to house them. They tore down the old high school. This is it," said Mayor Patterson.
Members of the Public Educational Building Authority wouldn't comment on camera but said they aren't concerned because the money is there. They just are waiting to hear if using bond money for the project is legal.
And some neighbors who live near the road site don't want teenage drivers in their neighborhood where children play.
"I think it's a waste of time. We have too many busy roads, traffic," said Andrew Jackson, a neighbor.
"There are little ones that walk from the apartments and houses. It's not safe," said another neighbor.
But they don't want all their tax dollars already spent on the new school go to waste.
Patterson says he needs the money to start construction by Saturday to get the work done in time for school.
The road work is supposed to take six weeks. The first day of school is six weeks to the day away from Saturday.
read more stories in Local News
ABC 33/40 Talkback - Story Comments
Not a member yet? Click Here to sign up.
Please leave your comments below:
Messages that harass, abuse or threaten other members; have obscene or otherwise objectionable content; have spam, commercial or
advertising content or inappropriate links may be removed and may result in the loss of your posting privileges. Please do not post any
private information unless you want it to be available publicly. Never assume that you are completely anonymous and cannot be identified by your posts.
More News and Videos
© 2009 TV Alabama, Inc.
The Associated Press may have contributed to this article.
All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
ABC 33/40 News to leave comments on news stories.