GENTRY -- The city council on Dec. 7 passed a number of ordinances dealing with vacating certain street and alley right of ways and establishing cemetery rules for city-owned cemeteries.
Following a hearing in which no one opposed petitions to vacate street and alley right of ways located in the College Hill Addition, the council passed three ordinances, on three readings with a single vote, to vacate a portion of Eureka Street and alley right of ways between Eureka Street and Crawford Street -- one, a north and south alley right of way; and the other an east-west alley right of way running between lots owned by John Herrington. The actions were recommended by the city's planning and zoning commission, and it was noted that the city had no plans to build streets or alleys there and the right of ways were overgrown with trees and brush.
The ordinances were to take effect after 30 days, with the land in the easements reverting back to the property owners on each side of the vacated street and alley right of ways.
In a resolution, the council also authorized the mayor to discuss with property owners a planning and zoning commission recommendation to vacate the remainder of Eureka Street and to vacate an alley right of way adjacent to the city land on which the water tanks are located. In order for the right of ways to be vacated, all the adjacent property owners need to petition the city to do so.
Prior to the council action, councilmember James Furgason questioned Mayor Kevin Johnston and David McNair, the city's public works supervisor, if there was any possibility the city might need the right of ways in the future. Both assured Furgason that there were no plans to ever build Eureka Street or open up the alleys. McNair also made reference to possible legal issues because of an attempt by a landowner to open up the street for public access to a business. Another resident said he needed legal access to the land to open up a drainage ditch on the street right of way to divert water from a home.
An ordinance establishing rules for city-owned cemeteries passed on its third reading. The new law includes the following:
• Setting the price of burial spaces at $300 per space, with full payment due before burial or monument placement.
• Monuments must be grade level or placed at the headstone in line with adjacent markers.
• Caskets must be placed inside vaults.
• Up to two interments are allowed in the same space as long as one or both of the interments are cremations and, in the case of a casket burial and a cremation, the casket is first buried in a vault and the subsequent cremation burial is no less than 24 inches deep.
• Trees and other plantings at graves, as well as grave fences and other obstacles will be prohibited.
• Only the city or its designee may open or close graves.
• The city may remove decorations placed at graves at least twice per year and will remove decorations and flowers not attached to headstones one week after Memorial Day.
In other business, the council passed a resolution authorizing the mayor to apply for a GIF Fire Protection Grant in the amout of $30,000 to be used for repairs to the city's ladder truck (with 95-foot aerial ladder). The ladder's turning platform was in need of repairs according to Vester Cripps, Gentry's fire chief. Cripps said an additional grant round recently opened which allowed the fire department to apply for the grant to make the repairs. The application deadline is Friday.
The council also accepted the resignation of Janie Parks from the Ward 4, Position 2, seat on the council. Parks offered her resignation since she moved out of the city ward and could no longer legally hold the seat.
City residents living within the ward may contact city hall and supply their qualifications for service on the council if they are interested in being appointed to the vacant council seat. At its January meeting, the council is expected to appoint someone to fill the remaining three years of the term for the council post.
Another meeting of the finance committee to review and make needed changes to the proposed city budget for 2016 is sceduled at 7 p.m., Monday, Dec. 21, at the city hall conference room (entrance is in the back).
Also reported to the council on the printed agenda was another significant increase in city and county tax revenue for September. City Sales and Use tax revenue was up almost $12,000 over the same period in 2014. County Tax revenue was up approximately $14,000.
General News on 12/16/2015