Wednesday, September 25, 2013
School Board approves $22,693,965.98 working budget
by Matt Hughes
J-E News Editor
Webster County School Board zipped through their agenda on Monday night, only getting held up by a closed session for a student disciplinary hearing that took over an hour.
One of the biggest items of the night was the introduction of the 2013-2014 working budget for the district, which board members approved with a 4-0 vote.
Providence reports cheap water rates despite increase
by Matt Hughes
J-E News Editor
At their last meeting, the Providence City Council voted to approve the second reading of an ordinance dealing with water rates. The ordinance will increase the standard water bill in the city by approximately $4, and generate an estimated $144,332 in revenue for the city.
“We’ve needed to do this for a least six years. And even though we’re making these adjustments (increase), we’re still below 14 of the 16 water districts in the surrounding area,” Gooch said. “This is the first water rate increase since 2000.”
Fiscal Court votes to down debated tree near Slaughters
by Matt Hughes
J-E News Editor
A tree that Magistrate Chad Townsend estimates to be several hundred years old has been a hot spot of debate in the Slaughters area and in Fiscal Court for the last several months. The Webster County Fiscal Court voted on Monday that it was time for the tree to come down.
Issues with the tree first came to light during a June court meeting when the magistrates were discussing summer paving projects. Several magistrates reported at that time that there were also quite a few dead limbs that hung out over the road.
In July, Judge Executive Jim Townsend had Jailer Terry Elder dispatch a road crew to trim the tree back, but they were not able to remove all of the dead limbs.
“There was one limb that was so high we couldn’t reach it from the truck,” said Townsend. “It’s way up there. That limb definitely has to come down.”
“You’d have to take out part of the tree to get that limb out,” added Elder.
The county has discussed removal of the tree with the property owner on numerous occasions, but they have held firm that they didn’t want it cut down. Other area residents, however, feel differently.
Plans set for Providence “Uptown Fall Festival”
by Matt Hughes
J-E News Editor
The Providence Tourism Committee has presented plans for the 2013 “Uptown Fall Festival”, which will be held from 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. on October 12, 2013.
Fiscal Court seeks land to build new dog pound
by Matt Hughes
J-E News Editor
The Webster County Fiscal Court continues to move forward with plans to build a new dog pound in Webster County. The decision to rebuild, however, was not one of the county’s choosing.
“Basically, the state is requiring counties to build new, up-to-date facilities,” said Judge Executive Jim Townsend. “We do a good job with our current facility, but they want the counties represented by nice new facilities.”
The new pound will come with a price tag somewhere around $200,000. Luckily that won’t have to come directly out Webster County’s pocket. Judge
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