by Dwight Turner

The City of Ardmore, TN Board of Mayor and Aldermen ended several months of internal bickering by approving a motion to proceed on constructing a new City Hall on land recently purchased along Main Street. The action came at the scheduled meeting of the Board of Mayor and Aldermen on Thursday, June 1.

The decision to proceed with the City Hall project was not unanimous.

Alderwoman Janice Reece and Alderwoman Laurene Schrimsher, outspoken in their opposition to spending city funds to construct a new city hall, voted against the measure. Mayor Bobby Hastings, Vice-Mayor Ken Crosson, and Aldermen Garon Hargrove and Raymond Crabtree voted in favor of the motion. Alderman Tim McConnell abstained. In past meetings, McConnell had voted against the new city hall.

“I have been involved in this project since the beginning,” said Crosson in introducing a motion to proceed with the project. “I make a motion to obtain preliminary drawings from an architect, secure plans, put it out for bids and build it.”

Crabtree seconded Crosson’s motion. Little discussion followed and the matter was brought to the table for a vote. Prior to the vote, Mayor Bobby Hastings asked the audience in attendance if anyone would like to express an opinion on whether or not a new city hall should be constructed. No one voiced an opinion.

In other business, the board passed a resolution maintaining property tax rates for those living in the city at current levels. Residents of Ardmore living in Giles County will pay a 26-cent tax rate and those residing in Lincoln County will pay a 29-cent rate.

In another matter, the board voted to ask the city attorney to draw up a new ordinance that would prohibit residents of Ardmore from keeping Pit Bull dogs and other dogs crossbred with Pit Bulls in the city limits.

“We have quite a problem with Pit Bulls in Ardmore, especially with a number of the dogs next to Dollar General,” said Alderman Raymond Crabtree. “People have come to me expressing their concern.”

Crabtree went on to express his desire to see a city ordinance passed to prohibit the ownership of Pit Bulls in the city limits. Mayor Hastings reminded those present that a new ordinance would indeed be needed.

“Most people have these dogs for illegal purposes,” said Crabtree. “They are dangerous. If they get a hold on somebody, they won’t turn loose.”

Street Superintendent Terry Barkley added that there are Pit Bulls all over Ardmore. Mayor Hastings expressed his support of a new ordinance, banning Pit Bulls.

“These dogs are bred to fight and can be quite vicious,” said Hastings. “I think it would be well within our rights to have an ordinance against owning them in the city limits.”

After discussing the matter further, Crabtree motioned to have an ordinance written. Crabtree’s motion was seconded by Hargrove and passed unanimously.

In other business, the board unanimously approved the city budget for FY 2006-07. The new budget projects $756,800 in General Fund revenues and $658,515 in expenditures. The city will enter the new budget year with a surplus of $73,000 carried over from the previous year.

---