Paris, Tenn.–Carlton Gerrell was reelected Paris City Mayor and Jackie Jones reelected Vice Mayor at Thursday night’s Paris City Commission meeting.
City Director of Finance Traci Shannon swore in Gerrell and Jones, along with new member John Etheridge.
City officials reported that as the widening of Hwy. 641N progresses, future widening has hit snags with TDOT.
According to the narrative about the project on the agenda, “The only way to be certain that future legs of this project are wider than three lanes is to secure a BUILD Grant from the US DOT which can be up to $25 million. This is what Kentucky was successful in doing which enabled them to begin their portion of the widening project. To write a grant of this scope and magnitude requires expertise and connections that we simply do not have locally.”
Paris-Henry County Industrial Committee Executive Director Rob Goad has tentatively come to an agreement with the firm of Bacon, Farmer, Workman out of Paducah to write the grant for the city.
City officials said, “This is the same consultant that Kentucky used when they were successful in getting awarded a BUILD grant. The agreement with this consultant also requires that they use the local engineering firm L. I. Smith to supplement their efforts. The consultant cost to write this grant will be not to exceed $75,000.”
The Industrial Committee is requesting a contribution of $25,000 from both the City and the County to go with the $25,000 they will be contributing to cover the cost of this consultant.
The request was approved.
In other business:
–The city approved a 1 percent COLA increase across the board for all employees.
–Also approved was purchase of a new pumper truck for the fire department, as requested at the last meeting.
— Greg Sherlock, current owner of Terrace Woods Mobile Home Park located on N. Market St., contacted the City requesting it take over ownership of the streets located inside the mobile home park. The request was denied as it has been city policy to not take ownership of streets or drives located within private developments.
–Paul Harber owns two parcels of property lying on either side of the west end of an undeveloped alley running between Guthrie Rd and Mimosa Dr. He is requesting the City convey this undeveloped alley to him so that he can divide the two parcels into three for further residential development. His request was forwarded to the planning commission.
–Shannon reported the city’s retail sales tax revenue was up for the sixth month in a row. September reflected an increase of 11.39% compared to last September and we are up 9.66% for the fiscal year-to-date.
Three business licenses issued in October:
New business: Tiny Blessings Daycare, Just in Time Towing & Recover, Steriplus Inc
Top photo: Mayor Carlton Gerrell is sworn in by City Finance Director Traci Shannon as Commissioner Gayle Griffith looks on.
Bottom photo: John Etheridge and Jackie Jones sworn in. Photos by Lance Pierce.