Brookhaven officials will seek to have a section of WestCherokee Street patched next week following completion of workrelated to the Whitworth Fire Loop project.

Business owners and motorists have complained of alternatingperiods of dust and mud after a portion of the street between NorthJackson Street and South Whitworth Avenue was removed to installnew water lines. Alderman at large Les Bumgarner, who owns aclothing store in the affected area, mentioned a business-relatedneed for addressing the street concerns.

“Some of them are hurting and wanting to get back in business assoon as possible,” Bumgarner said during Tuesday night’s boardmeeting.

Ward 4 Alderman Bob Massengill mentioned the Ole Brook Festival,which is scheduled for Sept. 27-28 on Cherokee Street and otherparts of downtown.

“If we don’t do something between now and the end of the month,we’ve got problems,” Massengill said. “It’s a mess.”

Brookhaven Water Department Superintendent Lanny Dickey said thestreet section would have to be closed two days for the patchingwork to be done. City officials said contractors had completedwater line related work on the West Cherokee Street section.

Officials indicated they would talk with contractor Greenbriarabout doing the street patching Sunday and Monday. The move was aneffort to keep business inconvenience to a minimum.

Full paving of some downtown streets is expected to be donelater.

The fire loop contract includes $200,000 for patching ofdowntown and other city streets affected by the project. Cityofficials contemplated trying to get that money back to pavedowntown streets.

“I don’t know if you can take all of it to do some of downtown,”said Jimmy Furlow, city sign and traffic control supervisor.

The city has included $300,000 in next year’s budget for pavingfollowing the fire loop project. Furlow said he would recommendpaving six city blocks on Railroad Avenue, Whitworth Avenue andCherokee Street.