The Webster Progress-Times

The Eupora Board of Aldermen handled a variety of matters during a special called meeting last week.

Planner George Crawford of the Golden Triangle Planning and Development District updated the board July 1 on the status of the road to be constructed near the Hawkeye Glove building from the parking lot to Highway 182. State and federal grants were awarded for the project two years ago.

As previously reported, the Mississippi Department of Transportation is now requiring additional environmental studies and the cost of asphalt has approximately doubled in price, along with other unexpected expenses.

Crawford said he and Calvert-Spradling Engineers did not believe enough money was available in the Appalachian Regional Commission grant to proceed at this time without requesting additional funds.

The county Board of Supervisors has filed a request with ARC for $88,000 in additional funding, which GTPDD believes will be approved. City aldermen agreed that while this was not the best use of federal and state monies, the project may be too far along to withdraw.

They also discussed the new owners of the plant; having approved a request on June 13 to assign the current lease between the city and Hawkeye to Puller Acquisition Co. Mayor Tommy Lott said he would contact the plant manager for a letter of job commitment.

The board accepted a contract from Northeast Mississippi Coca-Cola Bottling Co. in Starkville that offers the city $10,000 toward four scoreboards at Gary Park, and all cooler equipment and its maintenance and repairs in exchange for the exclusive sale of Coca-Cola products for the next 10 years.

In related action, the board accepted these donations toward the purchase of Gary Park scoreboards: $1,000 from Plymouth Tube, $500 each from Deweese Awards & Trophies and Triple S Construction (new motel), and $150 from All American Check Cashiers.

City attorney Hugh Gibson filed a lawsuit June 17 in Webster County Circuit Court on behalf of the city against Cable TV Inc. of Starkville. The suit was to obtain past-due franchise taxes due the city.

Gibson reported that the city received a check for $8,060.12 on June 30, which did not include attorney's fees and court costs. The board authorized Gibson to send a bill to the company for the $173 filing fee and approximately $1,000 he incurred. The check that was received will be placed in an escrow account because it is not actually payment in full and the lawsuit remains pending.

Mayor Tommy Lott presented various recommendations regarding the RV/camper park at Whites Creek Lake. He recommended setting the fees per RV pad at $15 per day and $85 per week. He also presented a sample form for the campers to receive as guidelines.

The board voted to accept the guidelines as temporary as well as the prices recommended until final regulations and policies are established.

Aldermen also authorized an emergency grant change order to cover additional equipment expenses to get Water Well No. 2 running.