Dumplin' Festival Will Return
WINFIELD - There will be a Dumplin' Festival in 2004.
Mayor Kenny Burchfield announced at Tuesday's (October 7's) meeting of the Winfield Board of Mayor and Aldemen that the festival will be held on Memorial Day, which falls on May 31, 2004.
This will mark the first time the festival has been held since 1997.
A change in this year's festival will be to move it from its traditional location at city hall to the Winfield City Park. The change of venue had been recommended by Mayor Burchfield due to parking problems at city hall. The mayor said that he and most of the aldermen walked through the park prior to Tuesday's meeting and believe it to be a suitable location. The stage has already been moved to the park and additional improvements will be made to accommodate the festival between now and May.
"Parking always kills us here (at city hall)," Burchfield said. "I feel like there is four times more room there (at the park) than here in the front lot. I feel like we can park several hundred cars over there."
In other matters, the board approved an extension of the Winfield Fire Department's boundaries, pending a determination by city attorney Mark Blakely as to whether the extension will follow state guidelines.
The matter was brought to the board in way of written leter by Fire Chief Doug Wilson.
The extension will allow the fire department to serve areas that include Angel Valley Road, Gum Fork road, Upper Jellico Creek Road and Lower Jellico Creek Road.
"The membership (of the fire department) felt like we ought to offer those folks some fire protection," Wilson told the board. "It may not be much help, but the membership wants to make a conscious effort."
Wilson said that neighboring fire departments, through a mutual aid agreement, would ensure that the city was protected in th event of a fire while the department was out on call.
The board also heard from School Board member David Marlar concerning the Winfield School project.
Marlar said the project is "really kinda at a standstill."
"There's a lot the architect has to do that we're not aware of," Marlar said.
"It does seem like it's going awfully slow. We would ask that the (Winfield) Planning Commission give their blessing so we can keep the ball rolling on this."
The board, acting on an item forwarded by the planning commission, approved the first reading of a zoning ordinance that will change th property acquired by the Scott County Board of Education just north of Winco Home Center from C-2 property to R-1 property, which will allow for the school to be built there. A public hearing on the ordinance will be held on the evening of the board's November meeting, scheduled for November 11.
"I don't want politics to get involved in this," Mayor Burchfield said. "I think the people of Winfield and the children of Winfield deserve a school. I know there's been a lot of bridges burnt and a lot of hard feelings over this. It's time to put our differences aside and come together on this."
In other business. . .
The board elected to allow the fire department to purchase six oxygen tanks. Currently, the department leases the tanks at a cost of $44.50 per month. Fire Chief Wilson said it would take only 2-to-4 years for the tanks to pay for themselves.
The fire department's annual Halloween Party was approved by the board. The party, held on Halloween night, includes hot dogs and soft drinks and gifts for the children attending.
Engineering firm Elrod Dunston, Inc., was appointed by the board to help prepare the town's Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) application at no cost to the town. The grant would help the city with its sewer system.
Acting on a motion by Chad Jones, the board unanimously voted to donate $500 to help city police officer Bobby Ellis cover medical expenses from a recent surgery.
The next meeting of the Winfield Board of Mayor and Aldermen will be held on Tuesday, November 11, at 7 p.m.
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