Contractor asks Tipton public-safety board to close alley for roofing project; board delays formal action

Brad Whitman asked the Tipton Board of Public Safety for a temporary closure of the alley behind 118 West Madison Street so his crew could place a dumpster and access the roof for a substantial repair.

Whitman told the board he had asked for a week to accommodate weather but expected he would realistically need three days, with possibly a half day on a fourth day. He said the rear of the property cannot be accessed safely from the road because of power lines and that placing the dumpster in the back would block business access and risk debris reaching the road. “So we’re requesting to close down the alley right next to the building,” Whitman said.

Staff reported that department heads had initially denied the closure request because the alley is regularly used by delivery vehicles for businesses including Dollar General and Pizza King and because of concerns about blocking access and creating traffic hazards. Board members discussed alternatives: limiting the closure to the span behind the contractor’s building, coordinating work dates with Dollar General’s delivery schedule, having the street department place barricades and the contractor add caution tape, or using the front or side of the building if feasible.

The chair said the board would not take formal action at this meeting and asked staff to consult with fire, police and street departments and to try to coordinate with Dollar General before the item returns to the agenda. Whitman offered to provide up to a week’s notice before starting work and said he would move deliveries and dumpster placement to times when traffic impact could be minimized.

The board did not vote on the closure; members asked staff to return with recommendations and any required permits or conditions at the next meeting.