Wilson Clinic moved a step closer to conversion to
a 15-unit apartment complex following the Tuesday, May
25 Huntingdon Town Council meeting during which
council members approved on first reading an amendment
in the town's zoning ordinance that would allow
multi-family housing as a use upon appeal within the
B-3 (Central Business) District.
The council previously approved unanimously the
Planning Commission recommendation to pursue the
change in order that Mr. Jimmy Watson, new owner of
the clinic property, might be allowed to establish the
apartment complex. Mayor Dale Kelley stated at that
time that the project would facilitate efforts to make
the downtown area more viable.
The ordinance faces a public hearing at the June 8
regular meeting of the council after which the second
reading will be conducted for final approval.
Developers wishing to take advantage of the change in
the zoning ordinance, if approved at the June 8
meeting, would be required to submit a site plan and
appear before the Board of Zoning Appeals.
In other business the council:
* Approved the low bid of $66 per yard by Mid-way
Materials in Camden for concrete mix to be used in the
downtown streetscape and other projects. High bidder
was Southern City Concrete of Jackson at $71 per yard.
B.T. Redi-Mix of Brownsville and Southern Concrete
Products of Paris declined to bid;
* Approved the low bid of $11,899 by ICM Memphis for a
sewer camera to be used by the Public Utility
Department. Other bidders were Aries of Sussex, WI at
$12,318 and DSW of Jacksonville, AR at $12,125;
* Approved a resolution in support of TVA initiating a
program allowing public school systems a ten percent
credit on their power bills for two years. The
resolution states a recent TVA rate hike of 7.4
percent has increased the cost of local governments
for the operation of public schools at a time of
"budget austerity", with many systems facing severe
budget cuts. The request for relief appeals to TVA's
institution ten years ago of a public schools and job
credit program whereby all public schools in the TVA
region received ten percent credit on their power
bills for two years;
* Approved the solicitation of proposals from brick
pavers for the downtown renovation project.
* Approved an ordinance to add a section to the
Municipal Offences ordinance of the Huntingdon
Municipal Code to prohibit the placement of basketball
goals alongside or within public rights of way.
Vice-mayor Gary Hatch advised the action follows the
suggestion of Tennessee Risk Management following
their recent annual inspection.
Announcements included notice of the budget workshop
scheduled for Monday, Jun 7 at 7:00 p.m. at City Hall
and the Town of Huntingdon Music Fest for Relay for
Life to be held June 12 at the Carroll County Court
Square in Huntingdon. The event promises live music,
train rides, dunking booth, and dancing in the street
plus hamburgers, hotdogs, polish sausages and chicken
sandwiches for sale. Citizens are encouraged to bring
their chairs and enjoy the festivities.
Councilmember Melissa Powell reminded the council of
the June 5 Evening With Carroll Arts event at the
Bethel Oasis Room at which the town will be honored as
a sponsor. She further advised the community theatre
group will present on June 17, 18, 19 and 20 the play
"Steel Magnolias" at their temporary location of the
old Catos building. Powell stars as Ouiser Boudreaux
in the play, the role assumed by Shirley MacLaine in
the big screen version.
