More Police Sought For Graysville, Tn.

  • Friday, October 14, 2005
  • Robin Kervin, Rhea County Herald-News

The Graysville Board of Mayor and Commissioners took action during its regular monthly meeting on Monday evening to provide more services to the residents of the town.

Graysville resident Denise Williams voiced her frustration at the lack of police coverage.

“We’ve got thieves, reckless drivers, potheads, crackheads; we have got it all,” said Williams. “I guess that’s just how it is everywhere anymore. But we need more police officers to patrol the town.”

Williams’ chief concern for her grandchildren was the number of reckless and speeding drivers in the town.

“We need to explore 24-hour protection, even if we need to hire someone,” said Vice Mayor Charles E. Kaylor. “We are budgeted for staffing all but nine hours, isn’t that correct? I think we need to get somebody in here.”

The majority of board members agreed, with only one vote objecting, to the hiring of another part-time officer or the rescheduling of current part-time officers to increase the coverage in Graysville.

Graysville’s Fire Department Chief Mike Miles was conspicuous by his absence. Miles regularly attends the town meetings. Assistant Chief Scott Wilson announced that Miles’ mother had passed away.

“Our condolences go out to the Miles family. Our prayers and thoughts are with them,” said Mayor Andy Beene.

Hale Booth with the Southeast Tennessee Development District proposed a couple of options to the board concerning fresh water for the town. The existing water tower on Rhea County Highway near South Rhea Animal Hospital is in need of repairs totaling approximately $65,000, and the pump station at Montague is going to need some fairly extensive repairs soon, according to Booth.

A site about halfway up Lone Mountain was also proposed for a new water tower.

“I’m being a little cautious here, in that I don’t want to create a conflict of interest here for the mayor,” said Booth.

None of the board members had any reservations in acknowledging that Beene owned the property being discussed, so Booth continued.

“A water tower costs roughly about a dollar a gallon to build. A 100,000 gallon tank is about $100,000. If you go to a larger tank, it may cost a bit less, since the greater portion of the cost is spent in the foundation. So a 150,000 tank might cost a little less than $1 a gallon,” said Booth.

Booth explained that the new water tower would cost more in the short run, but it would do away with the old water tank on the highway and would eliminate the need for the pumping station in Montague.

Board members agreed to consider a more detailed look at the new water tower plans during a workshop if Booth would provide the information.

Graysville Postmaster Katrina Fugate brought good news to the board and the residents of Graysville.

She has been working with E-911 Director Charles Riggs, and soon every citizen in the town will have mail delivered to their homes.

Riggs is working on some addressing issues, some addresses will be changed from Dayton to Graysville and some streets will have the houses renumbered.

“By January, we feel that we will be ready to start delivering mail to every mailbox, along every road in the town,” said Fugate.

Robin Kervin can be reached at rkervin@xtn.net.

Breaking News
Latest Hamilton County Arrest Report
  • 3/28/2024

Here is the latest Hamilton County arrest report: ADERHOLT, FELICIA DAWN 1110 ST CLAIR ST DUNLAP, 37327 Age at Arrest: 37 years old Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff Booked for Previous ... more

Signal Mountain Must Determine How To Use Remainder Of ARPA Funds
  • 3/27/2024

The town of Signal Mountain has $358,637 remaining from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds it received and there must be a plan in place by the end of the year for how the money will be ... more

Chattanooga Man Gets 21-Year Sentence For Fentanyl Death Of 19-Year-Old
Chattanooga Man Gets 21-Year Sentence For Fentanyl Death Of 19-Year-Old
  • 3/27/2024

A 25-year-old Chattanooga man, was sentenced to 21 years in federal prison for supplying drugs that led to the death of 19-year-old Charlotte Gallant. Jonathan Bash appeared before Judge Curtis ... more