Civic Corner: Board of Aldermen Recap
By Ricki Garrett, PhD, Alderwoman at Large
As we reach the two-year mark in our current terms of office, representing the citizens of Clinton, I want to express our appreciation to you, both for the opportunity to serve, as well as for your engagement with us. Whether it is attending a Board of Aldermen work session or meeting in person or calling, texting or emailing us, we appreciate your interest and your opinions. Of course, there will be times when neither the citizens nor the Board Members agree on an issue, but, hopefully, we will always treat each other with respect and consideration. It is an honor serving with fellow Aldermen Chip Wilbanks, James Lott, Beverly Oliver, Jim Martin, Karen Godfrey and Robert Chapman, and I look forward to the progress we can all make together.
As usual, this second meeting of the month had a shorter agenda than the first one, but, as always, the issues were important. Following the approval of the consent agenda, the Board heard from our Director of Parks and Recreation, Courtney Nunn. In the current heat wave, we are particularly appreciative of our parks and recreation and public works employees who are working outside, and Director Nunn indicated that they had been watching the heat index as they work on the fields. She was pleased that, despite the storm on the Fourth of July, they had been able to carry out the fireworks show. Director Nunn also expressed appreciation for the opportunity to travel with Mayor Fisher and others to Washington, DC, to lobby for our 84 Acres Project.
The Board of Aldermen unanimously approved the adoption of an ordinance to close and vacate a portion of Battery Drive in Clinton. This decision will not adversely affect the City but will provide additional space for the expansion of McNeely Plastics.
There was considerable discussion regarding a request for a conditional use/dimensional variance by Angela Love for the construction of a 7 Brew Drive Thru Coffee at 109 Highway 80 East. The primary concern was that the building would be metal, rather than brick, and would not be an appropriate fit for the area. The Board voted unanimously to table the request, so that the applicant could consider a different building material for the construction.
A certificate of appropriateness brought forward by Wyatt and Kristi Waters for the renovation of their studio and gallery at 307 Jefferson Street was also considered by the Board of Aldermen. This request required considerable thought by the Board, since the renovation proposed by the Waters involved adding a second story to the building, which would remove it from the list of historical buildings included in Clinton’s designated historical district. The Waters had argued that the business had been in Olde Towne for decades, and the second story is the only way they could expand the studio and gallery to accommodate their growing business. The Board weighed the value and attractiveness of the renovated building against its loss from the historical register and voted unanimously to approve the certificate of appropriateness.
In its final business of the night, the Board of Aldermen approved the hiring of one uncertified police officer, one certified police officer and one certified crime scene technician for the Clinton Police Department. The Board also approved the hiring of a Program Coordinator for the Clinton Therapeutic Recreation Department.
I encourage everyone to vote in the statewide primaries to be held on Tuesday, August 8.
EDITOR’S NOTE: Space will be provided in each issue of The Clinton Courier to the Board of Aldermen for a recap of each meeting. Aldermen are asked to volunteer to provide this recap for the Courier.
