Burning Outdoors......Get a Permit

foreseen economic price increases.

Reporting for the Director of the Park Board was Don Barber. He began the report by giving credit to the board for “working with a 12 year old budget. We’re doing good with what we’ve got.” Some of the changes and improvements reported were more trees being cut down due to rot, and the purchase of a used utility cart, as the most recent one was bought by Coach Grinder when he ran the park. Some exciting additions to the tennis courts are coming after Christmas in Hohenwald with new nets for tennis as well as nets for pickleball.

Crystal Nash’s Library and Archives report included several positive statistics. She began by thanking the commission for the additional lighting and says the elderly visitors have expressed gratitude as well as the workers. The Library saw a 46% increase in visitors and a 670% increase in people attending educational programs on premises such as the summer reading programs. A report of the building project was also given. “The plan has been broken up into phases, and phase I is $750,000. $338,000 of that has been raised, but we’re not quite ready to break ground with 33.4% of the total project funded,” said Nash. She gave several examples of how funds are being raised, which included the yearly hot chocolate stand at Christmas in Hohenwald.

Another building project in the works, is that of the new jail on Swan Avenue. During the Sheriff’s report, Sheriff Dwayne Kilpatrick, gave an update of the build. “We are on target to be in at the first of the year. We have 45 beds and currently have 97 inmates. The finished building can’t come soon enough.”

The meeting wrapped up with several resolutions discussed, including rules for the new grant-funded Dog Park, bids to make repairs at the court house, the allowance of certain atv/four wheeled vehicles to be allowed on state highways, and the surplusing of county vehicles in different departments to make allowances for updated needs.