Mayor, board begin new 4-year terms in Oneida
The first meeting of a new four-year term for Oneida’s Mayor and Board of Aldermen was held Thursday, with newly-elected Alderman David Lowe being introduced, and high vote-getter Alderman Cecil Anderson being selected as vice mayor.
Also, at the start of the meeting, the board approved new terms for City Recorder-Treasurer Betty Matthews, City Judge Harold Jeffers, Police Chief Mike Cross, and City Attorney Mark Blakley.
On a motion by Alderman Sharon Miller, a resolution authorizing Mayor Jack E. Lay to make application for a 2008 Enhancement Grant from the State Department of Transportation to construct sidewalks was approved.
The grant requires a 20 percent match from the town, and engineers from the East Tennessee Development District will assist in the grant application process, Mayor Lay informed the board.
The mayor said that, if approved, the grant would allow the town to construct sidewalks along portions of Claude Terry Dr., Municipal Dr., Church St., and Cooper St., which would connect the city sidewalk system to the Bethlehem Baptist Church walking track, thereby creating a walkway for school children from Oneida Elementary School on Claude Terry Dr. to the Oneida Middle and High School complex on Main St.
Ordinance No. 780, formal adoption of a federal civil rights policy, was approved on first reading by a unanimous vote of the board. The ordinance requires a public hearing and second reading, which has been set for the December meeting of the board, before it can be enacted. Such an ordinance must be enact by the board if it is to remain eligible for federal grants distributed by the state, Mayor Lay told the board.
In other business Thursday, the board gave its approval for a fund-raising roadblock to benefit the Heartline Full Gospel Church of Helenwood (which was to have been held on Saturday, Nov. 17 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Oak Grove traffic light). The money raised will be used for Christmas gifts for underprivileged children.
Oneida Fire Chief Mike Stringer provided the board with his department’s monthly activity report. Stringer said the firefighters responded to nine calls during the month of October, which include a vehicle fire, three traffic accidents, a gas spill and responding to electronic alarms. In addition, Stringer said the department held meetings each Tuesday evening of the month for training and maintenance of vehicles.
In response to a question posed by Alderman Jeff Tibbals, Chief Stringer said that Oneida firefighters are “paid per call,” receiving $15 for the first hour of service and $8 an hour thereafter. Also, Stringer said, the firefighters are paid $8 hour for their attendance at the weekly two-hour meetings.
Mayor Lay reported that Christmas at the Park would kickoff this year with a tree-lighting ceremony set for Monday, November 26 beginning at 6 p.m.
He also reported on $2.5 million in grant applications which have been filed on behalf of the town over the past six months, which include funds from the Department of Homeland Security for the Oneida Police Department (for dispactching and body armor), recreational grants for a walking trail, and for a pool repair project.
Mayor Lay announced the Alderman Miller’s term on the Oneida Planning Commission would end next month, at which time she would be replaced by Alderman Tibbals.
Also, Mayor Lay said that the last day to pay property taxes without penalty would be November 30.
Alderman Tibbals inquired about adding the golf course to the monthly financial report; asked about progress being made on obtaining traffic signalization for the U.S. 27-Verdun Rd. intersection; and asked about the status of the town’s water shortage.
City Recorder Betty Matthew explained that a “new system” at the bank involving the issuance of bank statements had complicated the inclusion of the golf course finances in the board’s monthly report in time for the meeting, but that it would be made available afterwards.
Mayor Lay and Police Chief Cross combined to bring the board up to date on work toward obtaining traffic lights for the intersection (near the Boys and Girls Club), with Chief Cross saying the fact that pre-school classes were now being held at the facility enhanced the possibility of getting the signalization.
Mayor Lay responded to the question about the town’s water shortage problem by saying that the Water Department continues to purchase water from both Huntsville Utility District and McCreary County, and that he and Water Manager Johnny Acres had recently toured a potential site for a new reservoir.
Vice Mayor Anderson and Mayor Lay reported that the blacktopping in the newly-established Bear Creek Recreation Park would be the finishing touch on the first phase of project.