The guard rail in front of Persell Middle School that the council has been discussing off and on for a few months is set to hopefully officially be reinstalled by the end of the week. P-J file photo

By Sara Holthouse

sholthouse@post-journal.com

Since the end of 2024 the issue of reinstalling the guard rail in front of Persell Middle School, which was removed after the renovations to that area of Baker Street, has returned to city council for discussion off and on. The guard rail is now hoped to be fully reinstalled by the end of the week.

The issue returned to the table during Monday’s meeting of both the public safety committee and full council work session. During the public safety meeting it was discussed that the sidewalk had to be worked on first before the rail was reinstalled.

“They basically had to move them so they could legally put the guard rail back in,” Councilman Jeff Russell, R-At Large and chair of the council’s Public Safety Committee said. “I guess with the guard rail, obviously I’ve been pushing that it be put back, hard … I guess I’m more concerned about it when inclement weather comes.”

It was noted that it would be great to have it done by the time school starts, and that the school is paying for part of it as well, both of which were then later addressed at the work session of the City Council that followed. It was also noted that this is something that has been on the council’s radar for many months.

During the work session, Councilman Randy Daversa, R-At Large and chair of the public works committee, said the guard rail has been delivered and the school has paid for the guard rail itself. The county is helping the city install it. Mark Roetzer, interim city public works director, said the overall cost for the entire thing is roughly $11,000, though the county is not charging the city for their help. The guard rail is on track to be installed before the beginning of the school year.

“The sidewalk is all done and the guide rail will hopefully be installed this week,” Roetzer said.