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Huntingdon water customers will see an increase in their bills in August, after rate increases take effect July 1. The Huntingdon Town Council on Tuesday, June 14, approved on first reading a two percent increase in water rates for customers residing within city limits and ten percent for those outside the city.

Sewer rates were unaffected in the ordinance in which the change of service (transfer) fee was adjusted from $5.00 to $25.00 and deposits from rental customers from $30 to $100.00.

Mayor Dale Kelley said the town loses as much as $17,000 annually when rental customers move, leaving unpaid water bills. He further stated, "There is no government entity I know of that charges less than $25 (in transfer fees.)"

He said a reduction in water use over the past few years had reduced revenues for the Water Department and that a comparison study had shown rates in the town to be less than in other cities and utilities.

The increases were engineered as a part of the FY 2005-06 budget in which estimated revenues over expenditures of $2,050 were expected in the $1,208,850.00 Utility Fund budget.

Sanitation fees were increased $1 per month on first reading of the General Fund, Drug Fund, Solid Waste Collection Fund, Utility Fund, DCPA (Dixie Carter Performing Arts Center, known as "The Dixie") Special Project Fund and Public Improvement Fund budgets, which maintained the prior year tax rate at $1.29 and included a 15-cent per hour raise for all employees, effective July 1, plus a 15-cent per hour raise on the anniversary of their date of hire.

Kelley said the $1 increase on sanitation fees would help offset the cost of picking up leaves, limbs, and household items such as discarded appliances.

Revenue was further enhanced by the restoration of half of the lost state shared tax, allowing approximately $16,000 to be counted in anticipated tax shared revenue.

Major expenditures included some $44,000 to fund the Carroll County Economic Partnership and the $10,000 Huntingdon Industrial Development Board; $400,000 for downtown renovation, funded by a TEA-21 grant and $496,000 Carroll County Watershed grant; additional funding of salaries required in the adjustment to a 41-hour work schedule for police officers; the lease of a patrol car; and the purchase of a used pickup truck for the Parks and Recreation Department.

Kelley said the Police Department had for six months been experimenting with 42-hour work schedules for some officers. The council on Tuesday also approved on first reading an ordinance effecting the change in the schedule for some officers and setting the overtime rate in excess of 42 hours for those schedules.

Deferred to next year's budget were a request for the replacement of the computer system for Finance and Administration; a laptop and projector for Public Works; a mower for Parks and Cemeteries, and the lease of a second patrol car.

General fund revenues over expenses came to approximately $950.

A $70,000 transfer to the General Fund from the $234,000 Solid Waste Collection Fund would allow for the retirement of a note for the purchase of equipment.

The Public Improvement Fund provided for lease collections, payment of insurance and retirement of the debt for the new post office. An $800 negative balance came about due to reduced interest revenues and increased insurance costs.

The Drug Fund estimated expenditures over revenue of $5,400.

When construction is compete, the DCPA Special Project Fund would continue as the operating fund for The Dixie's anticipated $250,000 operating budget. Kelley said construction of the performing arts center is approximately 70 percent complete.

"As always, it is our goal to maintain the highest quality of protection and service for our community," said Kelley. "I commend the budget committee because this budget accomplishes that exactly."

CITIZENS' CONCERNS POSTPONE DECISION LINKED TO PROPOSED CAREY COUNSELING CENTER HOUSING PROJECT

Citizens in opposition to rezoning on Buena Vista Road to allow the construction of multi-unit housing facilities for clients of Carey Counseling Center include, left to right, front row: James Hunt, Terry Arnold, Patsy Harris May, Peggy Chambers, and Mary Johnson; and, back row: Scotty Rhodes and James Milam.

A proposal that would amend zoning from R-1 to R-2 along Buena Vista Road, in the vicinity of Cherry Blossom Drive, was postponed to June 28 at 7 p.m. after seven citizens presented themselves for the public hearing with several making comment.

Present were contractor Harold Miller, who had made the request for rezoning on behalf of Carey Counseling Center, and residents of the affected area: Mary Johnson, Peggy Chambers, Patsy Harris May, Terry Arnold, James Hunt, Scotty Rhodes, and Joe Milam.

The rezoning would be necessary for the counseling center to construct a multi-unit housing facility and one duplex, according to Miller.
At issue was the anticipated character of senior citizens the center proposed to house in the complexes. Kelley acknowledged the center deals with clients with mental challenges, alcoholism and drug abuse but that they were non-violent.

"I would think it's nothing that would be a threat to the community at all," he said.

Hunt, however, noted, "I do know people with mental challenges can sometimes get out of hand. I welcome anything that can be of any help to anyone, but I would like to see that kept as an area for families and for children. We have Kelley Park out there."

Observing that children shy away in fear of people with obvious differences, he continued, "I would like to see it stay as it is: an area for families to raise their children."

Miller said he had been assured residents would have 24/7 supervision by staff of the counseling center.

But Chambers said, "Twenty-four hour surveillance is fine, but (what about) three years down the road?"

She further noted, regarding "older people with drug problems", that "a drug problem is a drug problem, young or old."

Kelley assured Johnson that the housing unit would not affect tax rates on nearby property but would increase the tax base for the town.

Council member Clarence Norman brought up the additional issue of whether the rezoning measure would open the area to "trailers"; however, Kelley noted mobile homes were allowed in the R-2 zone only on appeal.

Dr. Tim Tucker expounded that the rezoning would not affect additions to or the rebuilding of current residences.

As no representative of the center was available to clarify the issues, Kelley recommended and the council agreed to postpone the public hearing and second reading until its next regular session, at which, Kelley advised, residents were welcome to attend.

In other matters the council:

* approved on first reading an ordinance creating the position of "Director of Arts and Events" and establishing qualifications, duties and responsibilities inherent in the position, paving the way to hire a department head for The Dixie;

* approved the appointment of Chris Lash and WDAP Radio for the promotion and marketing of The Dixie and granted Kelley the right to enter into a contractual agreement regarding the appointment (see related article this edition);


* approved the request of the Babe Ruth League to host the state tournament at Kelley Sports Complex July 14-18, and to allow that an admission fee be charged;

* approved the request of Barry Pierce, president of the newly formed Dixie Boys Baseball League, for the use of a practice field. The council designated the use of Veterans Park on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday as church leagues use the park Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays. Kelley noted the big field at Edwards park was best suited to their needs and would be available where there were no conflicts, as would the Kelley Sports Complex; and

* was advised the council of notification from the Tennessee Housing Development Agency that the 2005 HOME grant application was not funded for the 2005 HOME program.

Carroll County Electric will increase utility rates in lockstep with the Tennessee Valley Authority in October. Lynn Compton, manager of Carroll County Electric, said the local utility district would increase the rates on all classes of customers - from security lights to large industrial.

TVA plans to increase rates on the wholesale level by 7.52 percent, the first rate increase since 2003. The average increase on a residential customer would be $3.50 to $6.50 monthly, according to TVA. Compton said the rate increase would cost customers in Carroll County approximately $1.5 million more annually.

Locally, Compton said the system recently completed a major upgrade to the McKenzie substation, located on State Route 124 (Greenfield Highway). The station serves as a hub for Carroll, Weakley, and Henry counties in the event any of the local systems have to draw power from the other. In all, Carroll County Electric has spent $800,000 to upgrade the station, which now has state-of-the-art equipment.