long beach — The mayor and Board of Aldermen, who take office early next month, are looking forward to helping the city progress in its recovery from Hurricane Katrina.
Residents had a chance to meet Mayor Billy Skellie and the aldermen last week at a breakfast held by the Long Beach Chamber of Commerce at First United Methodist Church.
Officials told the group they want to work together to bring more business to the city and market it to developers and tourists.
Some of the city’s projects, such as the police station and the new senior citizens center on Daugherty Road, are complete. Other projects are under way, including replacing water and sewer lines south of the railroad tracks and along 28th Street, building a new City Hall and fire station downtown, and creating a Town Green where the old Harper McCaughan Elementary used to be.
One of Long Beach’s biggest projects is Jeff Davis Avenue. Contractors are repaving the road, adding curbs and sidewalks and burying utilities, as well as putting in decorative street lights and landscaping.
“It’s going to be a beautiful street,” Skellie said. “I think developers are going to want to be there. At this point in our city’s history, it’s the engine that’s driving our city.”
He asked residents and business owners to be patient as the work is completed over the next couple of years.
“Katrina has taken so much from everyone, but we’ve been very blessed to get these things online.”
