By DONNA RYDER
Associate Editor
Woodland Mills maintenance employee Perry Carr got some new work this week.
During Monday night’s mayor and board of aldermen’s meeting, the board decided to add a few things to Carr’s agenda.
Mayor Wade Carrington informed aldermen Way-mon Reagan and Tom Menees that some of the Maplehurst property owners are not wanting to pay their property taxes because they have been mowing the “no man’s land” property between Olive Street in the Maplehurst subdivision and Highway 5. No one claims ownership of the property, according to the mayor.
He said the residents there have asked where the property taxes are going and he explained the city is saving the money so it can repair the city streets. He said they suggested their city taxes be used to mow this unclaimed property.
The mayor, with the approval of the board, instructed Carr to put the property on his mowing schedule.
Also on Carr’s mowing schedule is the grass around the city limits sign on Highway 5.
The board learned there has been a complaint about high grass near that sign and it is causing the resident difficulty when pulling out onto the highway.
City recorder Thelma Green said she has called the Tennessee Highway Department about the high grass along Highway 5 and was told the contractor is mowing in Weakley County now and Obion County is next.
In reference to mowing, Carrington said many residents are blowing their grass out in the streets and this is causing grass the grow in the cracks in the asphalt. He asked residents to not blow their grass in the streets. He also instructed Carr to spray the grass with weed killer.
While spraying the grass, Carrington also asked Carr to make a list of the streets which need to be resealed.
Carr can also now pick up small manageable limbs which have been downed during storms. This does not include limbs which residents have decided to cut or bushes they have decided to trim, Carrington said.
After the meeting was opened with the Pledge of Allegiance led by Menees and in prayer by Carrington, the board:
• Learned $167 is owed in property taxes from 2009 and $1,882 is owed from 2010. Charter Communications still owes $15 in utility taxes.
• Approved financial statements for June, including total assets of $7,328.81 in the street aid fund, $7,738.15 in the refuse collection fund, $541,937.51 in the sewer fund and $137,333.43 in the general fund.
• Discussed the condition of a resident’s property where a house has burned. Carrington said the last time he spoke with the owner, he was mowing the property. The mayor said they also talked about the status of a pool.
• Discussed a ditch where water is standing.
• Learned someone kicked in the door to the men’s room at the pavilion.
• Was informed there is a contractor who is lined up to give the city an estimate on repairing several items at the Civic Center, including doors, tile and the front of the building where someone hit it with a vehicle.
• Heard a new lift station would cost about $52,500. Reagan said he thinks the lift station is OK for now.
In a related matter, Carr asked permission to purchase a 65-gallon tank at a cost of $199 to use with the grinder pumps. He said he can pump the sewage and run it into a man hole and it won’t cost the city as much as it has been paying to contract the work.
Carrington reminded residents with the grinder pumps to call City Hall if the alarm goes off. “The first time it’s OK to hit the reset, but don’t continue to hit it,” he said.
Carr said the city has one pump ready to be used as a replacement. The other is being repaired.
• Heard Mrs. Green passed her Certified Municipal Finance Officer test.
• Was informed some residents have not received their rural fire notices because they have Union City mailing addresses. Mrs. Green said she has spoken with Union City Fire Chief Kelly Edmison and he informed her the residents will be covered until the notices are sent out and the appropriate amount of time to pay them is given.
• Granted Menees permission to attend the Local Emergency Planning Committee Conference in August. It will cost between $150-$170.
• Learned a resident is having a problem with her culvert and she wants to buy a new culvert and have the state install it.
• Discussed property the city obtained from Obion County and learned it will take some major equipment to clear the area of large trees. Carrington suggested once it is cleared, it could be used for a park.
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Associate Editor Donna Ryder can be contacted by e-mail at dryder@ucmessenger.com.

Published in The Messenger 7.13.11