Mayor's weekly blog
Weekly Letter – Monday, February 25, 2008 – Friday, February 29,
2008
I send Greetings to you from the Mayor’s office. I hope you have
had a good week and that you are looking forward to a great
weekend with your family. Maybe the weather will take a turn for
the better. I sure hope everyone gets over the crud soon.
The City Council met Monday night for a regular and took action
on the following items of business:
PUBLIC HEARINGS:
1. Village Pizza – Sale of Alcohol – This is a pizza place which
will operate in the old Cluxton building on the corner of Market
and Jefferson Streets, on the Square.
2. 2. Daniel and LaDonna Fuller- 11708 Pitts Bldv. - Request for
Annexation and Zoning. This is located on Highway 31 South near
Tanner Cross-Roads.
3. Kelly Thomas 19046 Moyer’s Road – Request for Annexation and
Zoning. This is located near the Tanner school area.
4. Andy Beasley – Highway 31 North – Request for re-zoning. This
may be a location for new apartments in the near future.
REGULAR CALENDAR:
A. Approved a joint agreement with the County Commission related
to the new Health Department at Highway 31 South..
B. Approved paving Highway 31 South and Office Park Road. This
will be the new entrance into the Health Department, and will
also open up lots that the City and County will be able to sell
as commercial property.
C. Set a public hearing for the rezoning of property located on
the north side of Highway 72 for John Furline.
D. Amended the business license Ordinance to re-classify four
types of small businesses. This will allow grass cutters,
janitorial services, and carpet and upholstery cleaners to not
purchase liability insurance. There will be other small
businesses that will be subject to this exemption. We had a
request from a roofer to exempt his business from the insurance
requirement, but we are not recommending that to the Council.
E. Tabled a Resolution to reorganize the Police Department. This
will be taken up at a later date and involves adding personnel
to the Department
F. Approved a Resolution to adopt revised retiree insurance
policy. This will allow retired employees to keep their health
insurance even if they go to work for another company after
retirement. However, once the employee gives up his insurance,
he may not get it back.
G. Approved a Resolution to approve projects from the Water
Department Capital Infrastructure fund. The total cost for these
projects is $372,000 and includes the following streets:
Hastings Road
Line Road
Village Lane
Highway 72 East, from Pike Road
Highway 72 East to Pike Road
Nick Davis/Oakdale Road intersection
North Lindsey Lane/Compton Road intersection
Entrance to Canebrake
H. Approved a Resolution to approve a lease agreement with the
Athens Limestone Community Association, Inc. regarding Trinity
School property. This will add about two and one-half acres to
the Lincoln/Bridgeforth Park.
I. Approved a limousine service for James Lindsey.
J. Approved a Resolution to execute a water purchase agreement
with Limestone County Water and Sewer Authority. We have sold
water to the Authority for many years and it is time for this
contract to be renewed.
K. Approved a Resolution to execute a contract for construction
of a new Wastewater Treatment Plant. This project will total
about $25 million when it is completed. This will be the largest
project in the City’s history.
L. Approved a Resolution to lease Electric Department vehicle to
Limestone County Economic Development Association.
M. Approved a Resolution to approve the purchase of two bucket
trucks for the Electric Department.
I went to the Polk Sallet practice after the Council meeting to
practice one of the acts I am a part of, and we had a good
practice for one-half hour. The opening number for this year is
the Music Man theme. I think everyone will really enjoy it. We
have put in a lot of work on the program this year.
Tuesday morning I was busy at the office getting information for
several folks who had requested information from the Mayor’s
office.
At 10:00, I went to WKAC for the regular radio show that I have
after every Council meeting. We had good conversation today
about our Council meeting, and we discussed the annexation bill
that we are trying to have passed in the Legislature.
I spent the afternoon in the office taking care of city
business, and I had several conversations with citizens and
Department Heads.
The Chamber of Commerce had a tour of Electrifill, an industry
located in Elkmont this morning, and I understand it was
successful. Hugh Ball and a large group toured this industry
that makes many small parts to be used in the automotive
industry. This is a good business for us to have in our county.
I went to the Sheriff’s Rodeo grounds tonight at 7:00 to attend
the reception for Miss Rodeo USA, Kristen Scott, who resides in
Anderson. David Seibert and I gave her certificates of
congratulations for bringing this title home to Alabama from
Oklahoma City. There were around 100 folks attending the event.
Leslie Burgreen, a former winner of this title, was present to
welcome everyone. She coached Kristen for several weeks before
she participated in the contest. I got to visit with my good
friend, Jerry Barksdale, for a good while tonight. I don’t get
to see Jerry too often, so meeting him here tonight was a great
surprise. Jerry and I go way back as good friends, and I always
enjoy his company. Jerry does a great column in the News Courier
on Sundays that is always filled with humor.
Wednesday morning I had a lot to do in the office. I also
visited Mrs. Mildred Harris to talk with her about her interest
in the Trinity project that the Council discussed on Monday
night.
I went to choir practice tonight and we had a good practice with
the songs we will be singing for our revival next week, and our
Easter Services.
Thursday morning I attended the Board meeting of the Chamber of
Commerce. Mary Nell Clem directed the meeting, and we covered a
great amount of Chamber business.
Kay and I went to Mooresville and had lunch at the Limestone Bay
restaurant. Jeri McClain, the Mayor, invited us to come for
lunch with her other guests. Mac and Shirley McCreary, and Jerry
and Kathryn Davis were also there for lunch. Kay and I enjoyed
the lunch, and we enjoyed the fellowship and conversation with
everyone attending. I had the hamburger steak with the
black-eyed pea dressing. It was so good. They are considering
entering this dressing in a national cornbread cook-off contest
soon. I told them I would testify for it if they needed me to do
so.
At 1:00 p.m. we went to the new Archery Range at the park behind
Athens High School for the grand opening. Jeannette Dunnavant,
Tourism Director for our Chamber, was emcee for the event. She
introduced everyone and several made remarks. The range was
opened with a ribbon cutting, and all of us lined up and fired
the first arrows at the new targets. I did hit my target in the
red and the yellow on my two shots. This was a great event.
Those attending included: Corky Pugh, Director of Wildlife and
Freshwater Fisheries, Jay McAninch, Archery Trade Association
chief Executive Officer and President, Brian Jones, Alabama
Bureau of Tourism and Travel, Dr. Orman Bridges and Dr. Barry
Carroll, our two Superintendents of Education, and several
school children from our schools. The announcement was made that
our systems have agreed to put archery into our kids P.E.
programs.
I spent the afternoon at the office doing some necessary work.
This afternoon I attended the retirement party of one of our
long-time fire personnel, John Abernathy. John has been a
fireman for 25 years and was a Captain at the time of his
retirement. John’s wife, Lynn, made all the arrangements for the
party, and she did an outstanding job. She had invited family
members and John’s fellow firefighters, and a large number came
out for the event.
John’s Mama, sister, brother, aunt and uncle, and his children,
were present for the occasion. He received a retirement plaque
from the Department, and a Certificate of Retirement from the
City of Athens. He received some nice gifts from the firemen. I
know there were some funny storied told about John, and there
probably a lot of truth to them. John has been a good employee,
and is young enough to pursue another career. I thought it was
ironic that he was involved in the call to the scene this
morning where a man died when his vehicle ran off the road and
crashed into a house. That was always a part of his job, and he
did his job even on the last day of employment. We all wish
John, Lynn, and their family many good years of retirement.
I went to an extra choir practice tonight. We are getting ready
to do the music for our revival which begins this Sunday. We are
also doing practice for our Easter music, and our spring
program. We have some good gospel music that really rocks. I
know our listeners will enjoy hearing a lot of good gospel. My
voice began to go out during the rehearsal, and I hope I am not
coming down with the crud that is bothering everyone else in
town at this time.
Friday morning I did not feel the best I ever felt, but I was
able to get going. I spent time doing correspondence and
answering calls to several people.
Kay had to go to the eye doctor today to have him check about
dark spots she has been seeing the past three days. We were
concerned because of the hard lick she had to her head when she
fell three weeks ago. He checked her eyes thoroughly found no
tears or injuries. He thinks it is just the shadows of objects
deep in her eyeball. He will check her again in two weeks
because he said tears to the retina may occur at any time. At
this time he feels there is nothing about which she should be
concerned.
I am including the Chamber of Commerce calendar of events for
you to find something for you and your family to do this
weekend, and in the next few days.
March
1-Mar at 6-11:00 AM - Band of Brothers Pancake Breakfast at
Friendship United Methodist Church, $5.00 adults, under 8 $3,
256-544-6310 or 278-8310
1-Mar - Dinner at P AM Show at 7 AM - Dinner Show featuring The
Flashbacks Classic Showband at Yesterdays Event Center, Athens,
AL,
www.yesterdaysevents.com
6-Mar at 9 AM - 2:45 PM - Third Biennial A-TEAM (Advancing
Technology Education Awareness Calhoun Community College,
Decatur Campus, tmh@calhoun.edu
6-8 Mar - 7:00 PM - Poke Sallet Revival at Athens Senior
Citizens, Athens, AL - Tickets on Sale Now, 256-233-6412
7-8 Mar at 6:00 PM -
3rd Annual Red Carpet Affair Beauty Walk at Elkmont High School,
Keila Berzett 423-3972 / 423-5754 or Debbie Evans 732-4625
8-Mar - 7:00 PM - Tribute to the Famous Grand Ole Opry featuring
Huston Terry, Milton Woolridge, Lacey Snider, Early Walton Band
and more at Athens Opry, 24861 Airport Road, Athens, AL, $10.00
admission, 256-206-0211 or 216-1151 or gwh228@aol.com
13-Mar - Ardmore Boys and Girls Club Annual Dinner at First
Baptist Church Family Life Center, Ardmore, AL, 256-423-8570
13-Mar at 7:00 PM - Critically-acclaimed pianist Robert Cowan
Concert at Athens State University, Athens, AL, McCandless Hall,
256-233-8126
15-Mar at 10-12 AM and 1:30-4:00 PM - Understanding the Horse
K-I-N Stables and Arenas {Indoor Arena}, K-1-N Stables and
Arena, Carter Road, Athens, AL, FREE,
athensplus.com/kinstables.htm
, 256-874-6781
15-Mar at 7-10:00 AM - Ardmore Veterans Organization Pancake
Breakfast at Ardmore, TN Annex Building, Main Street Ardmore,
Tickets are $5.00 each, children under 12 Free,
256-423-7588
29-Mar, Dinner at 6PM, Show at 7PM - Yesterdays Showband
Featuring Kevin Adams at Yesterdays Event Center, Athens, AL
www.yesterdaysevents.com ,
29-Mar - CASA Roast - Rev. Dusty McLemore at Athens Senior
Center, Athens, AL Tickets $30.00 each, 256-232-5751
Weekly:
Pickin’ & Grinnin’ at Ardmore every Thursday night at 6:30 PM at
the Ardmore TN Annex Building, 256-423-7588
Pickin’ & Grinnin’ at Elkmont every Monday night at 6:30 PM at
the Elkmont Depot, 931-427-6296
1st Friday Night of Each Month at 6-8 PM - Athens Cruz Inn
Downtown Athens, AL, 256-603-1227 or 230-6048
I guess this is enough for this time. Take care and I’ll see you
next time. mayordan
