By Shannon McFarlin News Director
Paris, Tenn.–The city of Paris’ new Building Inspector/Stormwater Manager was introduced to the City Commission at its meeting Thursday night.
Jesse Skidmore of Paris comes to the position with past experience in building inspection and ICC certifications. Skidmore introduced himself to the commissioners and will be starting the job on Monday. He replaces Lowell Schrader, who resigned earlier.
During the short session, City Manager Kim Foster announced the city has begun advertising for resumes and letters of interest for the position of City Attorney.
The city’s long-time attorney Fred McLean passed away unexpectedly recently and his brother Chip has been assisting the city in his absence. Both Fred and Chip McLean had planned to close their practice and retire by the end of the year.
Foster said the city will accept applications until August 15. McLean will assist in any way he can until he closes the practice.
In other business:
–The city’s contract with GFL / Waste Management to operate the transfer station has an escalator clause to allow for a yearly price adjustment based on the CPI for garbage collection. That number for this year reflected a 4.2% increase. To offset the city cost, city officials proposed an increase of $1/ton to our gate price as well as a reduction in the amount of weight that falls below our minimum charge. This will result in a 2.6% increase in price for Henry Co. residents and a 4.1% increase for out-of-county residents. The weight threshold to fall into the category of a minimum $15 charge will move from 750 lbs. to 500 lbs. or less.
The occasional transfer station user should see no change, a pickup truck load will still fall into the minimum charge amount. This change will mainly affect commercial users.
The increase was approved on second reading.
–City Staff is currently working through the process of identifying undeveloped right of ways within the city and determining whether or not it is in the city’s best interest to keep them or attempt to divest of them. During this process a resident living adjacent to an undeveloped ROW between Ogburn and Blanton Streets expressed an interest in acquiring this ROW. Staff has determined that there are utilities in this ROW so Keenan Amendments would need to be attached but divesting of this undeveloped ROW would be in the City’s best interest.
The request was forwarded to the planning commission, which will meet next week.
–Over a period of time prospective business owners have considered buildings in the city limits for breweries, distilleries, wineries, etc. Currently our ordinance does not list these businesses in our table of uses. Staff is asking the City Commission and Planning Commission to review and consider these uses for inclusion in our ordinance.
Any amendments to the Zoning Ordinance must be referred to the Planning Commission for recommendation and this proposal was forwarded to the planners.
Photo: New Building Inspector Jesse Skidmore, left, introduces himself to the city commission. (Jennifer Morris photo).