Bell Buckle seeks grant for water projects

The Bell Buckle Board of Mayor and Aldermen granted the town the authority to apply for a Community Block Development Grant at its Tuesday night meeting. The grant, said Mayor Dennis Webb, would go toward rehabilitating the water system, a project estimated to cost around $350,000.

"This is for Higgins Road and Fosterville Road," said Alderwoman Jenny Hunt, who is putting the grant application together. She said the funds would also be used to replace faulty or old meters, pay for a leak survey, and, depending on how much is left over, extend work past Webb School toward the Nestledown subdivision.

"If we're fortunate enough to get this grant, $56,000 will come out of the water and sewer account," said Webb.

"This is the best CDBG application we've done in quite a while," said Hunt.

Not one CDBG grant was awarded to Bedford County or a Bedford County municipality this year.

Sidewalk project

In other business, Hunt told the board the required environmental studies were being done concerning the sidewalk project. As soon as they are in, she said, there would be a public hearing, after which the town engineer, Jim Patterson, will begin to work on design.

Planning commission chairman Rodney Simmons reported that the commission passed a resolution concerning street lights.

"Basically, if they are in the city, we're responsible for them and if they aren't, we aren't," summarized Webb.

The planning commission also passed a resolution to recommend the C1 Historic Overlay zoning plan to the Board of Mayor and Alderman. This plan would allow only retail shops or other approved businesses on the first floor of the buildings on the main strip.

Webb gave a brief rundown of the board's recent strategic planning session where economic vitality, rehabilitating the water system, and retaining the town's character were marked as top priorities.

In the water report, manager Ronnie Lokey said water loss was higher in January than it had been, 35 percent, largely because people tend to let faucets drip in cold weather to keep pipes from freezing. Since the meters don't register small trickles, the amount of water used is not recorded, he said.

"I've seen the water loss in real cold weather go up as much as 50 percent," said Lokey.

Coming attractions

Hunt announced several upcoming events as she spoke for the Chamber of Commerce.

"Daffodil Day is March 21," she said. "We'll have the flower show and the Tree City USA presentation," she said. "For the ninth year in a row, we're getting the Growth Award."

There will also be an Arbor Day observance and all-day entertainment, including kite flying at the Bell Buckle Park.

Bell Buckle's newest addition to its yearly lineup, the Best of the Butts Barbecue Cook-off, isn't until Sept. 5, but those wanting to become judges can sign up now for a certification class. George Dickel, which sponsors the event, is also sponsoring a judging class to be held at 11 a.m. April 25 on the Downtown Stage lot behind the main stores. There is a $10 entry fee and only 25 applicants will be accepted. All proceeds, including those from the cookoff itself, benefit the park.

For more information, contact Hunt at 607-6784, Alderman James Anderson at (931) 808-1924, or Carla Webb at 389-7017.

The board also passed the first reading of a resolution raising water rates. The complete story is in the Feb. 11 edition of the Times-Gazette and elsewhere on this website.