I missed last week's column due to a problem with the flu bug. And like everyone else who has had it, I didn't feel like doing much of anything. It was my second encounter so far this year and I am sure hoping that it was my last one for this flu season.
A lady recently asked me why I continue to write this column, do a weekly radio program and spend so much of my time working at City Hall since we now have a full-time City Administrator.
It is true that I am still spending a lot of my time working on city business but that is what I promised I would do if elected to the Office of Mayor. The members of Council and I want to make a positive difference over the next three years that are remaining on our terms of office and we want to continue to keep the public informed of what is taking place with their City Government.
I plan to continue my present schedule as long as possible but I am sure that there will be times when I can not get it all done on schedule.
Mr. Paul Begley from Barbourville, Kentuucky was prevented from attending our regular February meeting of the City Council due to the death of a relative. However he does plan to attend the March meeting and to discuss the possibility of a machine shop for the city owned building next to the Municipal Building.
We are hoping that Mr. Begley makes a proposal that will be acceptable to the Council and will move his shop to that building. We can sure use any additional job opportunities that might be provided.
Our bill at the landfill for last month was down by almost $1,000.00 from the record high month. That figure demonstrates the success that we are having with our present system for recycling.
However we are very limited in available space and we may have to modify our original plans before we can increase the volume that we are currently collecting. We will either have to obtain more space or develop some other idea that will enable us to handle a large increase.
Councilman Bill Barton and City Administrator Mike Jones are working with Mr. Tip Jones, Campbell County Director of recycling, to develop a system whereby we can both recycle some items on our own and deliver other items to a Campbell County collection point for processing.
We will have to make a decision within the next few weeks as to the future of the old City Hall. We cannot continue to leave it in place in its current condition. We will be forced to either soon begin some renovation work or to have it torn down.
A lot of people have expressed their desire to see it restored and preserved and I am of that same mind. But we do not presently have the funding necessary to do the required restoration and it will be a lengthy process to acquire those funds-if indeed we ever can.
We would like for any individual or business that might be interested in restoring the old City Hall for use as an office building or some other related use to make a proposal to the City Council. We may be able to deed the property to someone who would contract to restore the structure to specified standards to include some space for parking (any such agreement would require approval based upon all legal considerations).
The State Highway Department has removed the damaged "Welcome to Tennessee" sign located on the Tennessee/Kentucky state line. It will be replaced within the next few weeks with a new sign citing Tennessee as the home of Vice-President Al Gore (all signs located on roads leading into Tennessee are to have that notation added).
Tennesse Governor Don Sundquist recently spoke at the annual "Lincoln Day Dinner" in Corbin and Jellico officials were invited. I attended that function along with Joe Brown, Director of the Jellico Housing Authority.
We had an opportunity to talk with Governor and Mrs. Sundquist for several minutes prior to the start of the program and he later had Congressman Hal Rogers to recognize me during the meeting.
Two of the main questions for the governor were the removal of Tennessee state sales taxes from food and the prospects for a state lottery in Tennessee.
We have had numerous inquiries concerning the recent change of ownership for towers "A" and "B". Occupants especially have been concerned about the future operation of the buildings.
I have talked with a representative for the prospective new owners and have received assurances that rental fees, operating policies, etc. will remain virtually the same as before the prospective change in ownership.
Former City Attorney Tom Barclay has informed us that we now have ownership of the Presbyterian Church located on Kentucky Street. Many of us have been concerned about the future of that church and want to see it remain a part of our town.
We will now need to decide as to how we will utilize it. One proposal has it being converted into a wedding chapel and it would certainly make a beautiful setting for weddings.
I want to thank Joann Watts, Eva Dolcini, Tom Barclay and everyone who worked toward obtaining the building for the city. Also Arnold Musick for the work he did to prevent any additional damage to the building from the weather.
Final note: I want to thank Mrs. Cheryl Tidwell for the work that she is presently doing with the Tennessee Valley Authority toward industrial development in our area.
Mrs. Tidwell is attempting to obtain economic development funds from that agency to be applied toward the cost of moving any interested industry (including the Begley Machine Shop) to Jellico if that arrangement can be worked out.
She has also attempted to contact the owners of the vacant building at our industrial site to have that building placed on the computer internet as available for any firm that might be interested in relocationg.
And in another very promising area, she is working with Kentucky officials toward procuring an industrial development that has been discussed as a possibility for Whitley County that could have a very positive affect upon us.
The City Council and I also recently drafted a letter from the City of Jellico endorsing a proposed airport to be located somewhere within Whitley County. That development too would be a positive one for Jellico should it become a reality.
Hopefully our combined efforts will eventually succeed.
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