Huntingdon Town Council members passed a 12 item agenda that included the second and final readings on four ordinances during the March 23 meeting.
A couple of the ordinances deal with council meeting changes. March is the last month for two meetings. The council has been meeting monthly on second and fourth Tuesday nights for years. Beginning in April there will be only one monthly meeting which will be on the fourth Tuesday night. Instead of beginning at 6:15 p.m. the meeting will start at 5:15 p.m.
Council members will continue to receive the monthly $100 compensation, the same as in the past.
Huntingdon was the only municipality in the county that had two meetings a month.
An ordinance that provides for the routine review and amendments for the fiscal year through July 1, 2020 – June 30, 2021 budget passed. No one spoke during a public hearing related to the review.
An ordinance that deals with a state law that is governed by the state Alcohol Board Commission passed. A privilege tax of $100 on the retail sale of alcoholic beverages for consumption on premises is to be imposed each January. Also, any person who has received a liquor license by the drink will qualify for a beer permit. All advertisements are to be in accordance with the state Alcoholic Beverage Commission.
A sewer system improvement project will take place at the Carroll County 1,000 Acre Recreational Lake. Council members agreed to enter into an agreement with J.R. Walford & Co. to provide engineering services for a new sewer pumping station. The total contract cost is $191,000.
Alexander, Thompson, Arnold PLLC(ATA) accounting firm was given the audit contract for the 2021 Fiscal Year budget through a vote of the council. The contract amount is $25,150 plus an additional fee of $3,750 in the event that an audit in accordance with the Uniform Guidance is deemed necessary. This base amount is $735 greater than the prior year base audit amount.
Council members agreed to a request from the Utility Department to purchase a Bobcat compact excavator on a state contract at a purchase price of $53,667.08 from Williams Equipment & Supply Co. of Jackson. It is included in the Fiscal Year 2021 Utility Fund budget.
An application will be submitted for a Tennessee Dept. of Economic and Community Development Infrastructure Planning Grant for a sewer system study. The program is designed to help communities understand their utility needs and plan for future work. Grants are up to $50,000 with a 5 percent match.
Four requests for use of Edwards Park this summer were approved. They include: West TN. Edge 2012 on Thursdays from 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. and on Sundays from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.; Lady Jaxx on south field on Tuesdays starting a 6 p.m.; West Tn. Edge 2010, south field on Thursdays from 5:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. until November; and West TN. Edge 2011 on north field on Tuesdays starting at 5:30 p.m.
A “Strong Like Ella” 5K event for May 8 at Veterans Park was approved. Registration will start at 9 a.m. with the race to begin at 10 a.m. The proceeds will go to the Ella Cary fund for medical and living expenses. She was diagnosed with leukemia in Oct. 2019.
At the close of the meeting, Joel Lynn McCluskey and Joel Williams who were in the audience were introduced as new residents of the town.
