Messenger Associate Editor

Limb clean-up from January’s ice storm in Woodland Mills is about 90 percent complete, the mayor and board of aldermen has learned.

During its meeting Monday night, the board was informed it has been too wet to get into some of the areas where hanging limbs need to be cut. Among those areas are the city’s ball park and along the walking track where limbs are hanging over the walking area, which could cause a potential danger to those utilizing the city service.

So far, Hall’s Tree Service has picked up over 220 truckloads of limbs from the community.

It was decided a cypress tree, which had the top broken out of it during the ice storm, should be cut down.

Alderman Waymon Reagan said he is unsure when the city will receive money from the federal government to pay for the clean-up. Because Obion County was declared a natural disaster area, the federal government will pay 75 percent of the cost of the clean-up. The state will pay an additional 121⁄2 percent, leaving the remaining cost to the city.

After the meeting was opened in prayer by Mayor Wade Carrington and led in the Pledge of Allegiance by alderman Kirk Snead, the board:

• Heard from resident Bill Sowell, who said he can’t understand why officials with the Tennessee Department of Transportation would cut limbs and only pick up half of them.

• Renewed two CDs in the sewer fund.

• Learned it has been too wet for Gibson Electric to move a street light from personal property to the right of way.

• Was informed about $5,000 is outstanding in property taxes. City recorder Thelma Green told the board that owners of property added to the tax roll after the initial bills were sent out have been given until the end of April to pay their bills.

• Noted that Woodland Mills ball caps are in and available for sale.

• Learned Spring Clean-up has been postponed until May 18 because Barker Brothers could not pick up on the April date which had been tentatively set by the board. Items for pickup should be placed curbside no later than 7 a.m. on that day. Carrington reminded the board there will be no Project Graduation cleanup this year.

• Approved a resolution recognizing Municipal Technical Advisory Service’s 60th anniversary.

• Agreed to review the Tennessee Municipal League insurance policy and add items which have not been covered. Among them are the fence around the tennis courts and the fences around the lift stations. A letter of recommendation from a TML inspector, who recently reviewed the city’s policy, has not been received. The TML inspector did suggest the limbs hanging over the lift stations be cut.

• Passed a resolution for an interlocal cooperation agreement, which allows the city to participate in TML.

• Learned the mayor has signed the city up for a summer worker through the Northwest Tennessee Workforce Board. The program will pay for an underprivileged youth, between 16 and 24 years of age, to work 32 hours per week. The program is part of the stimulus package, Carrington said.

• Heard Carrington will be meeting with Jim Cooper of the Obion County Economic Development Council to discuss ways for the city to fund a building, which could be leased as a restaurant, diner or convenience store.

• Learned someone has hit a mailbox and a garbage can on Highway 5. In a related matter, Mrs. Green said she tried contacting the state about a survey it performed when the city requested authority to lower the speed limit in that area to 45 mph. She had not heard from the state as of Monday.

• Set the next meeting for 6 p.m. May 11.

Published in The Messenger 4.14.09