| Courthouse, Recycling Remain Issues For Supervisors |
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By JOEL McNEECE Calhoun County Supervisors were unable to get an answer on how much longer they have to wait for the new courthouse project to begin. The board made several phone calls during their Friday meeting trying to reach project architect Rud Robison or other representatives with Pryor and Morrow and Associates, but could get no answer on how much longer the county will have to wait. The board was first told it would take "a few days" to get the contract-paperwork together and then submitted to USDA for approval. That was almost two months ago. Board members said USDA officials told them they were willing to assist the architects in completing the required paperwork to speed the process. At their Monday morning meeting, Board President Barney Wade said he had heard from the architect who told him the board should have a contract to look at by its Friday, Dec. 11 meeting. In other news, Calhoun Economic Development Association (CEDA) Director Terry Fales said planning is under way for the organization's third annual banquet Jan. 21 at the Methodist Corner in Calhoun City. Tim Weston, TVA field operations manager, will be the guest speaker. Entertainment will be provided by Suzanne Oakley and cast members from the upcoming school musical "Oklahoma." Fales said Kidz World, United Chair and the Career and Technical Center will also be honored during the banquet. Fales said he's had a few United Chair suppliers look at both the Kellwood and Bruce Furniture buildings as possible locations. "I think we've got a better shot with the Bruce Furniture building," Fales said. He said his organization was very supportive of the county recycling effort and would continue to work with the "Green Committee." In a related matter, the board approved the purchase of a truck for $6,500 from Cannon to pull the recycle trailers to the recycling center in Oxford. A discussion followed with the board agreeing in its support for the program, but concerned about the long-term costs. The success of the program has led to the trailers getting filled quickly and in turn needing emptied more frequently. "There's a lot of cost in gas to haul these trailers back and forth to Oxford and then the extra man," Supervisor Howard Morgan said. The county gets no financial benefit from the recycling effort, only the savings for however many tons are removed from the garbage runs to the landfill where it cost the county $22 per ton. Each recycle-trailer load is approximately a half ton. Supervisors acknowledged that several Green Committee members are doing much of the hauling an emptying of the trailers right now. The board agreed to seek more input from county municipalities while also working with the Green Committee to solve any potential issues with the program. Other items addressed by the board: •approved school bus turnarounds; •approved training for coroner Jerry Fleming; •approved hiring of Emily Rennie as secretary for Extension Service; •approval for supervisors to attend NaCo conference in March in Washington, D.C.; •took no action on request to allow county's public transportation buses to take residents to Coffeeville for "Christmas shopping;" •heard report from Engineer Chodie Myers that state budget troubles are holding up grant opportunities for potential paving projects at multi-purpose building and human services building. |