Bell Buckle approves tax increase

The Bell Buckle Board of Mayor and Aldermen passed the second readings of the amended 2008-09 budget, the 2009-10 anticipated budget, and a property tax hike at the monthly meeting Tuesday night, with only alderwoman, Annie Rooney, voting against the rate increase.

Mayor Dennis Webb voted against it on the first reading.

"The reason I didn't vote for the tax rate in our last meeting was that it never came up in our budget sessions," he said. "There were no targeted areas, no specific items it was tied to. I feel our tax rate is fair."

Webb said it seemed as though they were raising the property tax just because they could, not because of a specific reason.

"It needs to be structured," he said. "It needs to be dedicated to a specific purpose."

The anticipated budget indicated that the difference would bring in an additional $370 for the year. It would be an increase of about seven-tenths of a penny on the overall rate, said Alderman Frank Reagor, who initiated the rate change.

The tax increase raised the rate of 15.3 cents per $100 of assessed value to 16 cents, and will increase the taxes on a $100,000 home by about $1.75, or from $38.25 to $40 per year.

Residential properties are assessed at 25 percent of the appraised value, while commercial properties are assessed at 40 percent.

"I remember at the meeting, we were talking about 'small dollars,' and cutting hours," said Alderman James Anderson. "This is a small amount -- and why can't we add it to our coffers?"

Reagor moved to designate the money raised by the increase in property taxes to Safety, to answer the needs of the police department. Webb thanked Reagor for specifying the purpose of the additional revenue.

Honoring Elkins

The late James White Elkins was honored by the state legislature with a special proclamation, which was then presented to his widow, Dorothy, at the June meeting of the Bell Buckle Board of Mayor and Aldermen. Front row, from left, Alderwoman Jenny Hunt, Elkins, and Alderwoman Annie Rooney. Back row: Alderman James Anderson, Mayor Dennis Webb and Alderman Frank Reagor. (T-G Photo by Mary Reeves) [Order this photo]

There was a large crowd at the Town Hall at the study session preceding the meeting, for the monthly meeting -- but they weren't there for the proposed property tax hike.

They were there for Dorothy Elkins, the wife of the late James White Elkins, Bell Buckle's volunteer fire chief for 42 years.

"I'm going to ask the board to suspend the rules and get right to the topic that you are all here for," said Mayor Dennis Webb at the beginning of the study session.

He then proceeded to read a resolution passed by the Tennessee State Legislature honoring Elkins.

"'An exemplary public servant and consummate professional'," read Webb.

He gave the proclamation, signed by State Sen. Jim Tracy, who initiated the resolution, and Gov. Phil Bredesen, to Mrs. Elkins.

Pool problems

It was good news-bad news from the Bell Buckle water department. The water loss came in at 15 percent, said department manager Ronnie Lokey, which is far below the acceptable amount, but the town had to buy more water from Bedford County Utility District at a higher rate because Wartrace could not supply enough to meet the town's demands.

"We're trying to keep the tanks filled up, but we think a lot of this went into swimming pols," said Lokey. "If people do have pools, we need them to notify us and schedule the time so we don't have five or six people filling their pools at the same time and draining our tanks."

Webb said he has had discussions with Wartrace Mayor Don Gallagher about the issue and that the Wartrace water board would look into it.

"They're looking to see if they can improve that," said Webb. "Wartrace wants to work with us."

Fun stuff

Alderwoman Jenny Hunt, also a member of the Chamber of Commerce, told the board that the GeoWoodstock VII held last month was "a magnificent success."

"They were some of the nicest, well mannered, interesting visitors Bell Buckle has ever played host to," she said. "They lived up to their standard of 'leaving a place better than when they arrived.' I don't think they even left a cigarette butt."

In a previous interview, Brad Simmons, one of the event's coordinators, said the early goal of 5,000 visitors ended up closer to 7,000. His father, Rodney Simmons, said when the clean-up crew arrived the following Monday, they had nothing to do.

"There weren't even any trash bags," he said. "They picked up all their trash and took it with them."

Hunt also reminded the board that Motorcycle Day will be this Saturday, having been postponed from an earlier date due to forecast storms.

"Even with Bonnaroo and the CMAs, we're expecting a good turnout," she said.

The RC Cola-Moon Pie festival follows the next weekend, June 20.

The town's annual Fourth of July Celebration at the Park will begin that morning with a car rally, said Hunt, followed by a free hamburger cookout, with everyone asked to bring a side dish. The amphitheater, in the works since 2002, will be officially opened with Uncle Tom's Band as the inaugural act. The concert will be from 7 to 9 p.m. Fireworks will follow.