LANETT — As part of the downtown streetscape project, some of the overhead electrical lines on North Lanier Avenue will be going underground. By the end of Phases I and II of the project this should be taken care of, and there will be no overhead lines on the portion of North Lanier that runs from the downtown triangle to the bridge over Tanyard Creek, just past city hall.

To have this “line-free” zone, some downtown businesses will be receiving their electricity from behind their buildings rather than in front.

Some new overhead lines will run from First Street along a back alley to do this. This will also involve the moving of some electrical boxes and for the businesses to be reconnected.

On Monday, the Lanett City Council approved a resolution to do this at no cost to the affected businesses.

“Our goal is to get everything underground that we can,” said Mayor Kyle McCoy. “The problem with Phase III (from the creek to the state line) is that much of it is in a flood zone, and we can’t have underground lines in these locations. We could put up some new poles to make it more attractive.”

In other action at Monday’s council meeting, engineering services for a new walking trail were awarded to Goodwyn, Mills and Cawood of Montgomery. A grant of approximately $41,000 has been approved to build this new trail on the middle terrace of the W.O. Lance Elementary School playground. Plans call for an open pavilion, a slide from the middle to the bottom terrace, some wooden fencing along the top of the bottom terrace, park bench seating and lighting for the night-time hours.

City officials are considering the possibility of having a splash pad on the bottom section next to South 6th Avenue. An outdoor basketball court would remain.

In a unanimous vote, the council appointed Martha Scott to the Chambers County Development Authority Board of Directors. Council Member Tony Malone thanked her for agreeing to serve.

The council approved an off premise beer and wine license for the Summit Big Cat store located inside the police jurisdiction on Veterans Memorial Parkway. This was needed because the business has been sold from one party to another.

“We had a tremendous turnout at our egg hunt last Thursday at Morgan-Washburn Stadium,” McCoy said. “The weather was good, and I think everyone had a good time.”

The mayor thanked Chambers County Commissioners Sam Bradford and Debbie Wood for being in attendance at the meeting and thanked them for what they do for Lanett and the county.

Wood said she was most impressed with the progress of the streetscape project.

“It’s really beautiful,” she said.