The Newnan City Council approved a $2.6 million paving contract covering portions of 12 streets Tuesday and heard a crossing guard’s concerns about pedestrian safety after she said she was injured while trying to avoid a vehicle. Council members also reviewed proposed development impact fees, approved downtown street closures and authorized demolition of a house on Kidd Street. During public comment, Betty Sims, the crossing guard at Atkinson Elementary School, told council members she was still in pain after falling while trying to avoid being hit by a vehicle near the school’s crossing on Greenville Street. Sims, 77, said she missed two weeks of work after the incident and has since returned. She questioned whether cameras cover the intersection and asked about flashing lights to alert drivers to the school crossing. She said she was told the city can’t install flashing school-zone lights there because the road is a state highway. Councilwoman Cynthia Jenkins asked staff to find out whether cameras are there and to review other ways to protect crossing guards and students. “One of the things that we are trying to create here is a walkable community,” Jenkins said. Councilman Jim Thomasson said several people had contacted him to ask about Sims’ condition, and he supported having staff follow up. The council unanimously awarded Piedmont Paving Inc. a $2,605,189.10 contract for the city’s 2026 pavement preservation project. The city received eight bids, and Piedmont’s was…
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