Search the ArchivesNavigation Contact InformationThe Citizen Newspapers For Advertising Information Email us your news! For technical difficulties |
Town Council squabbles over new facilitiesMon, 11/06/2006 - 9:30am
By: John Thompson
Residents driving by Tyrone’s Town Hall Thursday night might have felt the heat emanating from the building on a cold November night. The fireworks started when the town started discussing a new town hall and police station. Mayor Sheryl Lee recused herself from discussion because a potential site for the town hall bordered her property, but she first addressed rumors that were swirling through the town. “Some people said have sold my property to (developer) Mr. Clark, but that’s not true,” she said. The developer had approached the town about building a new town hall in a new development that he was thinking about doing in the city’s downtown. Another issue in the convoluted discussion was the issue of impact fees. When Tyrone implemented impact fees years ago, it had earmarked some of the funds for new municipal buildings. “If the funds are not used after five years, we have to refund the money to the developers,” said Councilman Mike Smola. The town is looking at refunding more than $64,000 unless it starts work on engineering work or securing a site for the new facilities. Councilman Grace Caldwell said the consensus during executive session discussions about the proposal for a new town hall was not to pursue any additional land. She said any new facilities should be built on the present sites, but said something had to be done about the deplorable conditions in the police department’s basement. “You can’t breathe in that basement. Those stuffed animals that they are supposed to give kids are covered in mold,” she said. Caldwell said there was no plan for new facilities and that impact fees for the new buildings had been diverted to recreation funding. “I want this issue put on the ballot for the residents to decide,” she said. Smola counter Caldwell’s claims and wanted to know where money would come from for the new police department if the money was refunded to the developers. “Barry can look in the budget and find it,” Caldwell said. Councilman Paul Letourneau was disgusted by the whole matter. “You’re extremely shortsighted because Tyrone is going to change,” he said. The council took no action on the issue. login to post comments
|
Copyright 2010 - Fayette Publishing, Inc. | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use Policy
Server 4
