MAGNOLIA SPRINGS — Although the Magnolia Springs Town Council voted to vacate a portion of Palm Street last month, the issue rekindled during Tuesday’s council workshop.

As previously reported, Mayor Ken Underwood cast the lone dissenting vote against the request made by residents James and Ann West and Tim and Sandra Russell. Tuesday, Councilman Ben Dykema explained why he voted in favor of the action. He cited four points.

“As far as I could tell, the town was keeping its water access,” Dykema said, moving on to his second reason. “It would keep us out of court.”

The councilman also said town finances were an issue.

“There’s approximately $30,000 on the table,” he said.

Dykema’s final point was that the small section of Palm Street vated was of little value and did not hamper traffic.

“Everybody that lives on Palm Street still has access,” he said.

However, Underwood revived his argument against the action.

“We’re selling a portion of Palm Street that provides public access to the water,” he said, adding that over the years, such public-access points in the town have dwindled. “The next time this comes up, this room is going to be filled with people against it.”

However, council members pointed out that in the public hearings on the issue, residents both for and against the action did voice their opinions. In addition, prior to last month’s vote, attorney Dan Blackburn presented the council with a petition signed by 26 Magnolia Springs residents in favor of vacating the street.

Dykema also asked Underwood, who served as a council member in the previous administration, why the Wests gate on Palm Street, which was the catalyst of the issue, had not been taken down before.

“We wrote letters and letters,” Underwood said. “We can’t legally go take it down. We’ve got to follow a legal process.”

That process includes declaring the gate as a public nuisance before it could be removed.

The two continued to debate the issue until Councilman Jim May interrupted.

“Gentlemen, haven’t we done this already?” he asked. “I think we’re wasting time. It’s already been done.”

The only issue left undone is the approving a fee, which will come following the results of assessment of the monetary value of the property.