By Peggy Mackenzie
The Lewisburg City Council approved the first reading of Ordinance 250, the Rural Fire Service Fee, amending article 729 of the codified ordinance of the city of Lewisburg, by adding Section 729.09. The city council had determined that in order to fairly equalize the cost of providing fire protection services, it is necessary to assess a fire fee outside of the corporate limits so that revenues are made available to fund a portion of the cost for those services to users outside city limits. Currently, those users and beneficiaries pay no fire fee or municipal property taxes and therefore provide no funding for the department. The second, and final, reading of the ordinance will be read at the May council meeting.
In other business:
• Girl Scout Troup 2043 was honored with a Certificate of Appreciation by Mayor John Manchester for their community service efforts by painting the dugouts at Hollowell Park.
• City Recorder Shannon Beatty reported that the City of Lewisburg has sent a letter to the Town of Dingle, Ireland, stating an interest in becoming a Sister City.
• The council approved the levy estimate for the municipality of Lewisburg with no change from the preceding year.
• The Dick Pointer Cemetery Improvement Project received a bid to erect a wrought iron fence from J. Bennett for $4,150, and another bid for $5,416 from Riverbend Nursery for landscaping improvements, reports Beatty. Council member Mark Etten asked how the city was planning to fund the bids. Beatty said America in Bloom was committed to raise all the funds and that only $1,500 is still needed to complete the first phase of the project.
• The Family Refuge Center and Child and Youth Advocacy Center held a Blue Light dinner fundraiser to benefit local law enforcement in which $4,500 was raised. “This shows what kind of community we live in,” said Chief Tim Stover. The funds will be used to provide a Lewisburg-sponsored interrogation training program open to all state-wide agencies.