Bell Buckle creates historic zoning commission

Mayor Dennis Webb and Rodney Simmons explained the function and composition of the commission to aldermen and visitors again, stressing that the primary concern is for external appearances of buildings in the C-1 and C-2 downtown district.

"If you want to build or remodel, you'll have to get a certificate of approval from the Historic Zoning Commission," said Simmons, chairman of the planning commission.

The HZC would be composed of five to nine members, said Webb, appointed by the mayor with the board of mayor and aldermen's approval. This is different from most other commissions, Webb added, which do not require board input on appointees.

The HZC would oversee additions or changes in the historic overlay district and would ensure that any new structures or remodeling efforts would fit in with the current buildings. The commissions' rulings can be contested in chancery court, but are considered legally binding, Webb said at a previous meeting.

"I will come to the board and make recommendations about who should be on the commission," he said. "They will work with the state planners on ground rules, which then have to be approved by the board of mayor and aldermen.

"Once the ground rules are in place and that commission is in place, it's a free-standing body."

The rules, said Webb, have to be clear and definable.

"They can't be capricious and arbitrary," he said. "This takes the political part out of it and gives it legal strength.

Spending limit increased

The board also passed the first reading of an ordinance that amends the town's purchasing policy. Currently any purchases the town makes over $2,500 have to be bid out, said Webb.

"The state allows up to $10,000," he said.

Webb gave an example that if the volunteer firefighters wanted to do a project, donating their time, and the materials cost more than $2,500, the entire project would have to be put out for bid and would end up costing the town even more because it would then have to pay for the labor.

There will be a public hearing and a second reading of the ordinance before it is official.

Just discussion

Mayor Webb said concerns had been raised about the planning commission's recent discussion about the area known as "The Hill." At the recent meeting, the possibility of annexing the area was brought up and after some debate, dropped again.

"These are things a town is obligated to discuss," said Webb. "That's what we were doing -- discussing it."

Webb said the town had other, more important concerns at the moments, such as finances and the water and sewer situation.

"While we look at these issues, we're going to be talking about things going on in the future," he said.

Other business

• Water and sewer taps were approved for Michael Bauer and Kelly Wilson.
• The sidewalk project may face delays of up to a year because the environmental studies were not submitted in time. Alderwoman Jenny Hunt said it was important not to have the sidewalks torn up during the Webb Craft Fair.
• Hunt told the board Bell Buckle will be featured on a Talk of the Town segment soon and crews from the television show will be filming in and around the town.
• Sales tax revenue was down, but Alderman James Anderson estimated the loss -- at about 5 percent -- to be much less than the 15 percent drop he expected.
• Water and Sewer superintendent Ronnie Lokey said water loss was cut to 13 percent in the previous month.