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Archives
10-06-2004
School spirit displayed at Homecoming Parade
Becky Meredith/OCN staff
City receives $62,378 for new sidewalks Governor Phil Bredesen has announced that the state is providing the City of Livingston with an enhancement grant in the amount of $62,378 to assist in the development of the Church Street Sidewalk Project. "A sidewalk improvement project means a lot to a town like Livingston when it comes to improving mobility and safety for many people making their way across the community," Gov. Bredesen said. "I am pleased the state was able to contribute to this effort." On behalf of the governor, Tennessee Department of Transportation Commissioner Gerald Nicely presented the grant in Livingston on Thursday, Sept. 30. Nicely said, "The project will consist of a sidewalk that is five feet in width running from the intersection of Henson and Church streets, one block off the public square, to Bradford-Hicks Drive and the J.W. Winningham Memorial Nature Park." Commissioner Nicely explained the grant was being made available through a federally-funded program operated by TDOT. "In the 1990s, Congress set up an enhancement grant system of funding for activities designed to strengthen the cultural, aesthetic, and environmental aspects of the nation's transportation system," Nicely said. "These grant-funded activities include historic transportation facilities, bike and pedestrian trails, landscaping, and many other non-traditional projects." Commissioner Nicely commended State Senator Charlotte Burks and Representative John Mark Windle for their assistance in securing this grant for the Overton County town. Senator Burks commented, "This project will involve construction of sidewalks where none exist, and will also replace unsafe, decayed sidewalks that are approximately 70 years-old." Representative Windle added, "This city had to match 20 percent of the grant amount for this project to make it happen. The local support for this project was impressive."
David Langford appointed to City Council By DEWAIN E. PEEK, OCN staff Before appointing David Langford, the Council accepted Alderman Thurman Langford's letter of resignation, in which he said he enjoyed working with the City Council. Mayor Frank Martin said, "Due to his health problems, he thinks it would be in best interest for him to resign." The aldermen agreed to purchase a plaque to present to Thurman Langford in honor of his 26 years of service to the people of Livingston. The Council approved the second reading of the ordinance limiting the sale of non-prescription medicine that can be used in the making of methamphetamine. The ordinance will go into effect on Monday, Oct. 18. The city will take bids from collection agencies to collect delinquent water and gas bills totaling $104,537.11. The bills date from February 20, 2000, to May 20 of this year. In presenting the problem of the unpaid bills to the Council, Mayor Martin said, "My suggestion is that we ought to turn this over to a collection agency because we're not doing any good collecting it." According to Mayor Martin, about 90 percent of the delinquent accounts belonged to renters, who now can't be found. The Council voted to adopt an ordinance to condemn property where methamphetamine has been manufactured, until the property has been properly cleaned up at the owner's expense. Mayor Martin explained, "This would be condemned by the city police for up to 60 days, then the state would be notified and come in and determine what kind of cleanup was needed before the property could be used again." Chief Phillips informed the Council, "We have two people specially trained to go into these places and do a limited amount of testing." When asked what the ordinance does, Mayor Martin said, "If you own the building, you can't do anything with it until the state okays it." The resolution was adopted to borrow $3,570,000 for the water plant project. Mayor Martin informed the Council, "We already owe $10,087,190.37." He went on to say that the loan would have been for more if the city had not received a $500,000 grant for the project. The Council voted to contact UCEMC to add lighting for the streets in the newly annexed area. Mayor Martin said, "We're going to have to put the lights in. We annexed the property." Alderman Robert Jolley brought up turning off lights the city has been paying for that are not on the city right of way. Alderman Jolley said, "We've got street lights we're paying for that's on people's private property in their driveways, behind the house, behind the garage.Ó Mayor Martin announced that the city has received a $62,378 grant to install sidewalks along Church Street out to the bypass-Celina Highway intersection. He also told of a cost saving at City Hall, ÒWe did bid out the cleaning of the office, and we saved over $10,000 there." In another attempt at cost cutting, Mayor Martin proposed cutting out the city attorney position for a trial period. "The reason for looking at the city attorney in the first place is, I was looking for ways that we might save a penny or two here or there. That's the reason for looking at it,"Mayor Martin said. Kelly Williams, who has served as the city attorney and the city judge for approximately 15 years, informed the Council that she has not asked for a raise in that period of time. Williams' salary is $6,000 per year, plus extra expenses for legal matters outside the normal duties of the city attorney. She earned less than $7,000 for last year's service. The mayor estimated saving about $3,600 per year if Williams serves only as the city judge, providing that legal assistance isn't needed very much through the year. The Council voted to keep the city attorney. Veterans Day was designated a holiday for city workers. A "sick time bank" was established for city employees. Under this system, employees put in two sick days to start an Òaccount". Mayor Martin said, "It's a volunteer basis. If you don't get in it, you can't borrow from it." Mayor Martin informed the Council that purchasing emergency sirens to place on the three water towers inside the city limits is cost prohibitive. "I've checked into that and they cost so much that we're looking for some grants to try to do it," he said. Mayor Martin later said, "If we can't get a grant, we can't do it." The Council voted to apply small speed strips onto Oak Street in front of Livingston Regional Hospital. Alderman Curtis Hayes voted against the strips, having stated misgivings about ambulances running over them. In order to have a full staff, two men were hired at Livingston Police Department. One of them will fill a gap in the manpower from an officer who is currently unable to report for duty because of a medical problem. Police Chief Roger Phillips addressed the Council saying, "I would like to ask the board to make a recommendation that we fill that position, but given that Officer Stover will be able to come back to work, he will be returned to work at that time. We just need the positions filled to conduct business in the police department." Richard Carpenter, 21, who has been a reserve officer for more than a year, was hired for that position. Sean Allred was hired to replace Jonathan Storie, who took another job. Allred is already certified, and has worked in law enforcement for about six year. Mayor Martin informed the Council that he has told part-time employees that the city will not buy boots for part-time workers. He asked if any of the aldermen had any objection to that policy. None of the aldermen objected. Mayor Martin also addressed a concern brought about by the water runoff problem in the Greenfield Drive area, "I've had some people come in and ask for drains in their areas, scattered all over town, and I have told them that if they would buy the materials, the city would lay the lines and furnish the equipment and labor for them to do it. But, if we're not careful, we're going to get in a jam here with some of this stuff. What we do for one's going to have to be done for all of them." The mayor then asked about what to do with the Greenfield Drive problem. Alderman James "Pug" Lee asked, "Well, have we got the money?" Mayor Martin replied, "Nope, not today we don't." Adopting international building codes was put on hold until further research can be done. Fire Chief Rocky Dial commended Rick Winningham and the gas department on their assistance in preparing the public safety building for the installation of a generator. "Rick and his crew came over there and spent one whole day with us, and we've got about another half-a-day's work that we'll need them,"Chief Dial said. "They did an excellent job." The generator is scheduled to be shipped the 15th of this month, according to Chief Dial. Alderman Jolley brought up the need for an unmarked street that is misnamed West University Street to be changed to Medical Drive. The street department supervisor will check with the E-911 director to see about correcting the problem. Mayor Martin asked the Council when Halloween should be officially observed in Livingston. "Halloween falls on a Sunday, and I don't think we ought to have it on a Sunday," Mayor Martin said. The Council voted to observe Halloween in Livingston on Saturday, Oct. 30. The meeting adjourned.
Overton County News
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