Highfill to erect four storm sirens

HIGHFILL — With only three of the five members present, Highfill’s town council, at its Feb. 8 meeting, held its second reading of an ordinance to establish the territorial jurisdiction for the town’s planing area.

With rules suspended - requiring the additional vote of Mayor Stacy Digby to those of council members Ryan Evans, Toby Lester and Michelle Rieff - the proposed ordinance was read by title only. Sandy Evans and Paula Pautsky were absent.

The change, according to Highfill Fire Marshal Rob Holland, would only straighten up existing planning jurisdiction boundaries by going to section lines and following natural boundaries like creeks.

No other cities or planning jurisdictions have any issue with Highfill’s proposed new boundaries, Holland said.

The ordinance deals with that area over which the town would have a say in such things as lot splits and subdivisions because of the possibility the land - which can extend up to five miles from city boundaries - may some day become a part of the city.

Holland reported that the town would be getting four sirens rather than three for the same amount of money - grant money received from the state legislature. He said the original engines were not immediately available so the town would be getting four slightly smaller siren engines for the same price as the three, giving the town the same or improved coverage.

Holland anticipated the new storm sirens could be in place and operational by the end of February.

Also announced at the February meeting was the hiring of Vernon Reams as the town’s street and maintenance supervisor. He started in his new position on Jan. 31, a day before the first snowstorm hit the area. Reams replaces James “Butch” Wiand who took over as the town’s water and sewer supervisor.

The council discussed the possibility of purchasing a snow plow for the town’s tractor so that it could clear streets in the event of snows next year. Reams said the city could probably get a snow plow for its tractor for $5,500 to $6,000. He also reported a used truck with a snow plow and salt spreader might be able to be purchased by the city for $5,500 to $6,500.

No decision was made on the purchase of a plow at the February meeting.