The Town of Trezevant will not be hosting a couple of its usual holiday events this year due to concerns related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
During the Oct. 13 board meeting, aldermen voted to cancel both the town’s Halloween Trunk-or-Treat event, usually held in late October, and the annual Christmas Parade, usually held sometime in December.
Mayor Bobby Blaylock brought up the matter of the Christmas parade, suggesting that they might look into holding it on a Saturday afternoon this year, but Alderman Eddie Granger questioned whether or not they should hold that event at all.
“It worries me about the virus. That’s my only concern,” said Granger. “And what about Trunk-or-Treat?”
Town recorder Kathy Edwards pointed out that some area municipalities have already cancelled scheduled holiday events due to COVID.
Alderman Christy Creyssels said that it would be really hard to enforce any kind of social distancing at these events, particularly when it comes to children.
“We don’t want people getting sick and dying,” said Creyssels.
On separate motions from Granger, the board voted unanimously to cancel both events.
The board, however, did vote to go ahead with the annual Christmas dinner for town employees, board members, and their spouses with the date and time yet to be determined. Granger made the motion that they should contact Mallards Restaurant in Huntingdon and set up a group reservation.
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Aldermen voted unanimously to hire four new part-time police officers as soon as possible at a rate of $16 per hour.
Police Chief Mike Mulligan said that several officers working for other area law enforcement agencies have expressed interest in picking up extra hours in Trezevant. He also said that one of these might be willing to take his place as chief if offered fulltime employment.
The board also authorized Mulligan to get the transmission fixed in one of the town’s patrol cars as long as the cost is not over $2,000.
The mayor and some of the aldermen pointed out that the town needs more police patrolling at night.
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In other business:
•The board authorized town employees to hire a contractor to get the home of Jerry Moore connected to city sewer service just inside the city limits. The board agreed that the town should pay for most of the project, which will involve installing a pump to pump sewage from Moore’s home to the nearest connection point, while Moore will have to pay for the electrical hookups in his home. Town employee Joe Waldrup estimated that the project will probably cost the town around $11,000.
•Granger advised the board that the project to build an additional bay on the fire station should start in November and be completed in December or January.
•The board voted unanimously to raise the pay of town financial officer Jeff Goad from $17.42 to $20 per hour.
•The board authorized the mayor to negotiate for the sale of a town-owned lot at 125 Johnson Street.
•The board approved a pay-raise schedule for water supervisor Erik Grimes. The schedule increases Grimes’ pay in increments as he passes state certification testing up to as much as $23 per hour once all testing is completed.
•The board voted to bring a part-time employee that does mowing and other work back on the payroll on March 15 of next year.
•The board acknowledged that property owner Will Clark has satisfied the board’s requirements that he have the house at 5770 East Main Street torn down and the property cleared.
•A meeting of the town’s beer board was set for Nov. 2 at 6:30 p.m. at City Hall to consider a beer license application for the new owner of the pool hall.
