New council convenes

Newly elected officials are sworn in to office Monday evening during the city council meeting at Hornersville. From the left are Chief of Police Johnny Van Nunnery, new aldermen Glen Burress and Rondia Rauls, and incumbent Phyllis Hamrick. [Click to enlarge]

Immediately after swearing in new councilmen, Mara asked both former aldermen Marty Goff and Greg Fletcher to stay seated while he addressed some things the two had a hand in during their time with the council.

Mara commended each on his hard work and successful efforts while serving the City of Hornersville. "These men have both been very instrumental in the work and success our city has seen over the past year or so," Mara said.

Mara read a long list of items that both Goff and Fletcher helped the city to accomplish, including the completion of the city's water project, the airport improvement project, as well as the paving of some of the city's worst streets, which is taking place today.

The crowd of residents who filled the room applauded the men and thanked them for their service to them and their city.

As promised, Fletcher and Goff were instrumental in getting the city's street department funds high enough to get parts of George and Edmonston streets paved.

"Asa Asphalt is here today," City Clerk Penny McLarty said Tuesday morning. "They are paving parts of George and Edmonston streets, where it is needed most."

The city's plan is to keep building the street department fund over the course of the year, building enough revenue to have one to two streets paved each year.

After concluding all old business, the council approved the April 15 election results, which resulted in the loss of Goff and Fletcher.

McLarty swore in incumbent Phyllis Hamrick, and new councilmen Rondia Rauls and Glen Burress. Also taking office was new Chief of Police Johnny Van Nunnery.

Once in office, the newly formed board went straight to business. After reviewing its options, the council voted unanimously to use a new mosquito spray, Aqua-Reslin.

"It's very important that everyone knows how much the city spends for mosquito spray," McLarty said. "In just a year the cost jumped from just a little over $3,000 to $6,000, and we are only charging residents $ .75 on their water bills," she said. "That's nowhere near what we are having to shell out."

McLarty announced that the city's Community Development Block Grant application had been rejected, according to a report from city grant writer Mitzi Dell. "Due to misinformation regarding an audit, our application for the roofing grant has been postponed," McLarty said, but Mitzi is looking at alternate means of funding for us."

Other business included approving the 2008/2009 budget and appointing a Mayor Pro-Tem. Alderman Bruce Miller was re-elected by the mayor and his peers to serve as Mayor Pro-Tem.

The next regular meeting of the Hornersville Board of Aldermen is scheduled for 6 p.m., Monday, May 19, 2008, at the community center, located at 300 Main St.