1. Roadblocks will occur only during the months of April through September.
2. There will be only one roadblock per month and it will occur on the second Saturday between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.
3. The roadblock will be conducted only at the intersections of Main and Cedar Streets and Magnolia and Stonewall Streets.
4. All roadblocks will be approved by Chief of Police Harry Cooper on a first come, first served basis.
5. No person under the age of 18 years of age will be allowed to participate in a roadblock.
6. Roadblocks may be conducted only by organizations (not individuals) and each person making a contribution will be given evidence of their donation that may be displayed in their vehicle.

When Councilmember James Knolton questioned the policy, stating that perhaps two roadblocks per month should be allowed, Councilmember Adkins said, "That's too bad James, it's first come first served."

Asked Councilmember Willie Huffman: "So if a sports team has a good year, we're not going to allow them to have a roadblock?"

"That's tough; that's what she said," replied Knolton.

Huffman also questioned whether the police chief had the right to refuse an organization for cause other than the slot being previously filled. Advised City Attorney Kent Jones, a clause could be added to the policy allowing organizations that were refused permission to be placed on the agenda of the next city council meeting, however, the policy was passed without the added clause. The policy will be revisited after one year in order to determine its effectiveness.

Bid Openings for Mulberry Park Lighting and Tennis Court Repair

Bids were opened for repair of lighting at the Mulberry Park with Bailey Electric bidding $18,610.00; Glen Jones Electric - $15,660.00; and TMB Controls $28, 765.00.

Mayor Patty Edwards advised a representative of the Stuart Irby Company in Jackson was coming the following day to review the bids in light of the specifications submitted to the companies, and appointed a committee composed of Council members James Knolton and Gene Hale along with Parks Superintendent Ricky French to study the bids.

With Mayor Edwards unsure of the time the representative would be arriving, Council member Hale stated, "All he can do is give me a call; if I'm home, I'm home."

The total price of repairs at the Como Street Park, performed by Glen Jones Electric, totaled $29,344.28. Mr. Jones placed a bid of $9,200.00 for the installation of two new steel poles plus $300 per light fixture for needed repairs. Jones had suggested the City purchase the needed number of new light fixtures under a state contract in order to keep costs down.

Concerning the expected bids for repair of the tennis courts, Mayor Edwards advised a soil sample expected to steer the direction of the project was not yet complete. Bid will be re-let at such time as the specifications for the job are known.

Old Landfill Gains New Purpose

In a non-agenda item, Councilmember Gene Hale requested and gained Council permission for the construction of a shooting range at the old City Landfill located off Connie Allen Road.

The facilities will consist of an L-shaped firing range with indoor facilities for at least two shooters for use during inclement weather. A 50-foot hill will serve as the backdrop for the range with a 15-foot berm built in front of the natural barricade. Police officer Ricky Sawyers and Assistant Chief Bobby Pate serve as firearms instructors for the Department.
 

In an otherwise slim agenda, the Town of Huntingdon in its April 23 meeting of the mayor and Town Council honored Walter Butler with the town's top honor, the "Pinnacle of Excellence Award".

Said Mayor Kelley, "We are proud to present the Pinnacle of Excellence Award to Walter Butler for his achievements in state government. Walter recently moved from his former position as Deputy Commissioner of the Department of Labor and Workforce Development to become Commissioner of the State Department of Personnel."

Locally, Butler served as Carroll County Trustee from 1978 until 1994 when he was elected Carroll County Executive. In 1996, he accepted his first position in state government.

Mayor Kelley also followed the lead of Congress and the President of the United States in proclaiming May 15 as Peace Officer's Memorial Day, with the week in which the day falls recognized as National Police Week. In doing so, Mayor Kelley proclaimed, "it is important that all citizens know and understand the duties, responsibilities, hazards and sacrifices of their law enforcement agency, and that members of our law enforcement agency recognize their duty to serve the people by safeguarding life and property, by protecting them against violence and disorder, and by protecting the innocent against deception and the weak against oppression."

In other matters, the Council conducted a public hearing regarding the proposed plan of service relating to the annexation of property belonging to Pat and Sue Williams, passed resolutions No 454 and 455 on second reading regarding the amendment of the Huntingdon Municipal Zoning ordinance for the zoning of the property and for the annexation of the same, and adopted the plan of service for the property on first reading.

Beer Board Convenes

The Huntingdon Beer Board was called into session at the conclusion of the Town Council Meeting for the purpose of considering the application of James Leon Wilkes and Shirley Ann Wilkes, owners of the Cotton Lane Club, for a permit to sell beer at retail for both on and off premises consumption. The Club is located at 22580 Main Street East in Huntingdon.

With no objections heard, the board agreed unanimously to approve the permit.
 

Emerson Tool Company in Paris will close in mid-2003, idling 250 employees. The company announced that it will move its operations to Asia to take advantage of cheaper labor.

According to the Paris Post-Intelligencer, the company had significantly more employees than 250, but has gradually reduced those numbers through the years. The 650,000 square-foot industrial building is located at 1600 Industrial Park in Paris. The company has been in Paris for nearly 40 years.

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