Published: September 13, 2018

THE LAWRENCEBURG CITY COUNCIL MET IN REGULAR SESSION THIS MORNING.  THE MEETING BEGAN WITH THE DEPARTMENT MANAGER'S REPORTS IN WHICH FIRE CHIEF JAY MOORE ADVISED THE COUNCIL THAT THEY HAVE BEEN PUT ON STANDBY FOR BOTH IN AND OUT OF STATE SERVICE DUE TO THE POTENTIAL THREATS RELATED TO HURRICANE FLORENCE.  MOORE ALSO NOTED THAT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT INSTALLED CLOSE TO 300 SMOKE DETECTORS THIS SATURDAY DURING THEIR DETECTOR DRIVE WHICH WAS IN HONOR OF JASON DICKEY.  DICKEY WAS ALSO AWARDED THE 3 STAR AWARD IN NASHVILLE THIS WEEK FOR HIS SERVICE.  POLICE CHIEF TERRY BEECHAM ANNOUNCED THAT TRAFFIC PLANS FOR THE 2018 MIDDLE TENNESSEE DISTRICT FAIR SHOULD REMAIN THE SAME AS LAST YEAR WITH THE EXCEPTION THAT THERE WILL BE NO PARKING ON THE WEST SIDE OF JACKSON STREET AND THAT TRAFFIC NORTH OF TOWN WILL BE ENCOURAGED TO COME IN BY HELTON DRIVE.  LEADERS ENTERTAINED A LENGTHY AGENDA IN WHICH ALL ITEMS WERE APPROVED WITH MUCH DISCUSSION SURROUNDING A RESOLUTION TO ISSUE GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS FOR THE CITY OF LAWRENCEBURG IN THE AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED 5.25 MILLION DOLLARS.  BY APPROVING THE RESOLUTION THE CITY WILL HELP WITH THE SOUTHERN TENNESSEE HIGHER EDUCATION CENTER WHICH CAME IN OVER BUDGET.  SOME CONCERNS WERE EXPRESSED WITH THE CITY HAVING TO PAY THE ENTIRE AMOUNT BUT THOSE CONCERNED AGREED IT NEEDS TO BE DONE TO MOVE FORWARD AS THE CONTRACTORS WILL NOT START UNTIL THE MONEY IS GUARANTEED.  THE ISSUANCE OF THE BOND SERVES AS THAT GUARANTEE AND MONEY WILL BE DEPOSTED AS NEEDED.  UP UNTIL THAT TIME, OTHER FUND RAISING EFFORTS WILL CONTINUE AND COUNTY AND CITY LEADERS CAN WORK TOGETHER TO SEE WHAT THE COUNTY CAN PUT FORTH.  MAYOR DURHAM ADVISED THE CITY IS IN A GOOD PLACE AND IS VERY BLESSED TO BE ABLE TO DO THIS AND THAT IT WOULD NOT COST THE CITY TAXPAYERS ANY ADDITIONAL MONEY.  HE WENT ON TO ADD THAT THIS FACILITY IS GOING TO BE A GAME CHANGER FOR THE CITY IN REGARDS TO EDUCATION LEVEL, COMPANIES WANTING TO HIRE LOCALLY AND HOW BUSINESS IS DONE AS A CITY.