THE CHARLESTON CITY COMMISSION met on Tuesday to discuss such matters as annexation and the Heritage Center. Above, from left, are Commissioner Larry Anderson, Mayor Walter Goode, and City Manager Caroline Geren.
If the Commission approves the annexation paperwork, the documents will be forwarded to the city’s planning commission for review. Once considered and approved by the planning commission, the annexation proposal will be returned to the City Council for a final review. At this point, Charleston residents will be invited to voice their opinions.
“I hope that everything goes OK,” Mayor Walter Goode shared. “We are hoping the annexation will help us achieve a population of 1,000 residents within the city limits. This number will make us eligible for a lot of federal grants that we are unable to receive with our current population.”
Goode is optimistic about the project and foresees the rezoning committees coming together in the next several months.
In other business, two resolutions were discussed and signed at Tuesday night’s meeting. The first was a resolution to apply for a 50/50 matching grant from the Local Parks and Recreation Fund of the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation. The total project cost will be $150,000. The Commission is seeking $75,000 that it would match through labor, donations, volunteer work, cash, and other means.
“We believe this is a vital element for the health and welfare for the citizens of Charleston,” Goode stated.
Goode said the Commission is committed to completing the project within two years of the contract start date.
Several other issues were discussed at Tuesday’s Commission session:
- A resolution to adopt the 2012 updated Bradley County Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan was signed. This will take the place of the previously adopted 2007 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan. The resolution reads, “The Bradley County Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan has been developed after more than two years of research work by the Cleveland/Bradley County Emergency Management Agency’s Mitigation Planning Team.” The resolution will become effective upon final reading and passage by the City of Charleston City Commission.
- Discussion occurred concerning park closing time. Commissioner Donna McDermott said she went around Cleveland to check park hours. McDermott also proposed a work day meeting to discuss what would be needed if hours were instated.
- Three ‘Children in Play’ signs have been added since May’s Commission session. These signs are now located on Bates Street, Church Street and Cass Lane.
- The Charleston Fire Department is currently in the interview process of hiring 12 firefighters to begin on Aug. 6. Further hirings will occur for November and January.
- A Heritage Center representative, Faye Callaway, reported to the Commission that a plumber recently agreed to donate his services. The center currently needs the floor broken up so the plumbing can be reached and for several walls to be constructed.
“The Bowater Credit Union gave a donation,” Callaway shared. “This means we only have $5,000 left to pay back on the loan.”
- A representative from the Recreation Committee requested to use the rest of the recreational fund money on fireworks for the Fourth of July celebration. The Commission turned this idea down and further ideas were given.
According to Police Chief Hank Hayden, a $400 fireworks show would not be enough.
“If you put on a 50 cent show then you have done more harm to Charleston than good,” Hayden said.
The Recreation Committee representative proposed putting the fireworks idea on the shelf for now as long as the city works on including fireworks next year.
