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Published: Sep 10, 2008 - 04:15:13 pm CDT
City aldermen win grant for sewers n Vardaman considers long-term lease for Catholic Charities; Bruce hires interim prosecutor. By Mack Spencer Monitor-Herald After several years of trying to secure funding, Calhoun City finally received a grant for sewer lagoon improvements. The $400,000 community development block grant is a 100 percent grant, meaning the town does not have to provide matching funds or in-kind labor or services. Aldermen accepted the grant at this month's regular meeting. At the same meeting, the board was notified that it had been awarded a $480,000 low-interest loan from Rural Development for the same project. With the grant in hand, the board declined the loan. On a request from Jeff Gray, the board allowed $700 for rehabbing bleacher boards and repairing a bathroom sink at the City Ballpark. The board passed a resolution of appreciation in honor of former Calhoun County Journal publisher S. Gale Denley. No one attended the town's budget hearing. The budget will be adopted tonight in a recess meeting. Elsewhere: Vardaman Aldermen considered an extended lease for Catholic Charities, which is trying to renovate a building it is moving into. The organization has a 15-year lease on the property now, but needs a longer lease to secure some grants that will help with the renovations. A 75-year lease was proposed. The board will consider a lease with those terms next months. Consideration of a dog ordinance was again postponed. Bids on surplus property were rejected as too low. A West Point firm bid on a fire truck and two police cars for scrap metal. Garbage Clean-up Day was set for Oct. 4. Public works director Eddie Alford was approved for training. The 2008-2009 budget was adopted, and the current year's budget was amended to reflect actual expenses. Pittsboro Poles around the county seat will be a little more colorful soon. Board members voted to buy town flags this month, based on a design from a Bruce art student. Aldermen may be more recognizable around town, too, as they voted to also buy town T-shirts. The board nixed purchase of a booster pump for the water system. Board members sought a copy of the lease agreements they have with companies for use of space on the town water tanks. No action was taken on clean-up of the old school property or creation of a walking track. Bruce The board declined to consider selling the building now occupied by the Bruce Community Living Center, but said it would consider a longer lease term for parent company Community Eldercare. Company representatives are supposed to bring a proposed lease to the board's next regular meeting. "If we continue to own the building, we feel like we still have some control and can make sure everybody is treated fairly," city clerk Rita Talford said. Doug Wright and Christiana Palmer, who came to the board for CE, also raised concerns about the condition of the center's roof. Jim Beckett, the town prosecutor, resigned that position, citing time constraints; he will remain as board attorney. Terry James of Calhoun City is serving as interim prosecutor. Aldermen rejected an insurance policy with a $410 premium in favor of a policy with better coverage that has a $769 premium. The board adopted the 2008-2009 budget and maintained the 26.4-mill tax rate. Derma Aldermen here adopted the 2008-2009 budget and refunded a tax exemption.
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