By Shannon McFarlin News Director
Paris, Tenn.–Kathy Ray was re-elected Mayor of the city of Paris and John Etheridge was elected Vice Mayor at Thursday night’s meeting of the City Commission.
Ray was re-elected unanimously after being nominated by Commissioner Sam Tharpe. Etheridge was elected by a 4-1 vote, with current Vice Mayor Vickey Roberts voting no. Etheridge was nominated by Commissioner Jackie Jones.
At the meeting’s outset, Etheridge and Jackie Jones were sworn in after receipt of the certification of the November 5 election results which showed Etheridge was re-elected with 2,253 votes and Jones received 1,467. Earl Kendall received 1,000 votes.
Ray thanked her fellow commissioners for their confidence in her leadership and Jones thanked the public for their votes. “I look forward to another four years,” she said.
Tharpe offered his congratulations to both Etheridge and Jones on their re-election to the commission.
In other business:
–The Commission okayed a resolution approving the use of ALPRs (Automated License Plate Readers) in the city of Paris. Police Chief Ricky Watson said the readers have been in use and the department has been following the policy, but the policy had not been officially adopted.
Watson said the city currenty has seven cameras installed in the city limits, but has access to cameras all across the U.S. and the state. There are currently 5,160 cameras in the U.S., he said. In Tennessee, there are 459 cameras and of that number, Paris has access to 398.
There is an average of 400,000 vehicles a month coming through Paris and the department has received hundreds of ‘hits’ on the plates which have led to arrests. “We’ve solved vehicular homicides, robberies and other crimes. They’ve been a real benefit to our department. Really useful.”
–The Commission approved a plan of services/annexation request from the developer of the proposed Circle K convenience store that is to be built at the intersection of Hwy. 218 and Hwy. 79S. The developer is requesting six parcels be annexed. In a related item, the Commission approved a resolution calling for a public hearing on the proposed annexation.
–The Commission referred a rezoning request from Guinn’s Shoes to the planning commission. The request is for property at the corner of Fairgrounds Rd. and South Bell Ave. It currently is zoned residential Guinn’s Shoes is seeking to place warehouses on the property.
–Fire Chief Jamie Hinson attended a West Tennessee Local Emergency Planning COmmittee meeting and heard about the availability of hazard mitigation grants, one of which could help fund the purchase of tornado sirens for the city of Paris. Currently, the city ony has one siren which is manually operated. With this grant, Hinson said he would like to purchase three sirens which wil cover 90 percent of the city. The Commission okayed the proposal.
Photo: Kathy Ray sworn in as Paris Mayor by Finance Director Tammie Hopper. Shannon McFarlin photo.