Public Input, Corrections and Discussions at City Hall

 

 

By Greg Wells

CCN – Editor

 

There was very negative response from two members of the public who spoke at the end of last week’s city council meeting. There was also another man who voiced some opposition as well.

Their concerns are over a nonprofit organization converting a home on the corner of Owlsley Street for use as housing for up to six individuals.

Council Member Glen Murphy stressed that this was not going to be any kind of rehabilitation or recovery facility, “it’s a Sober Living house.”

“These people will be paying rent, and they will be drug tested constantly,” Murphy said. “They are trying to help Burkesville not hurt Burkesville.”

Mayor Laurel Irby said the city Council had not approved or denied locating the facility there, as it was zoned in a category that would allow such a home. She clarified that the council had simply endorsed the nonprofit organization’s stated goals and existence to aid them in securing future grant funding.

Murphy repeatedly stressed that this program was intended to help those returning from successful rehab or recovery programs have a safe place to move on with a clean and sober life.

The apparent husband and wife, who were speaking in opposition stressed, they believe that crime rates would go up and property value would go down.

A cultural phenomenon known as NIMBY, not in my backyard, is characterized by people saying they support something being done to help others, as long as he’s not done near them.

On the issue of whether or not the city could do anything, should they want to, about the new housing, the city attorney offered unsolicited comments.

Holly Long Parrigin, the attorney hired by the administration to represent the city’s interest, suggested that the city could possibly consider the nonprofit a commercial entity, which could alter the zoning considerations.

It was later, pointed out that, though they were not introduced before speaking, the two most vociferous opponents were apparently members of Parrigin’s family.

If true, that could place the attorney in a conflict-of-interest situation, though she made no mention of it at the meeting.

Last Thursday evening’s Burnsville City Council Meeting began with corrections to minutes already approved, not just those made by the administration, but several brought to their attention by Murphy.

A situation was brought to the council’s attention by Fire Chief and Emergency Management Director, Greg Cary. He advised the council that the 911 Emergency Dispatch System was dealing with a high number of nonemergency calls.

Cary said telemarketers had dialed 91 1 over 184 times last month. “I’ve actually talked with the SMRS (Specialized Mobile Radio System) Board, and they recommended we reported to homeland security, which I did,” Cary said.

He said he also put the local 911 system on the national do not call list.

Cary said the dispatch system handled 1,527 calls last month 442 of them to 911. Of those 493 were for the city police, 446 for the sheriff’s office 132 for ambulance assistance, 14 for the local fire departments 2 for the Rescue Squad, as well as other local agencies.

His data also included the time it takes for the average call to be answered, three seconds. And compared that to the national average of 7.88 seconds. Local time needed to dispatch a call from 911 was 40 seconds, compared to the 2.5-minute national average.

The council was told about several estimates for fence work in the ballfields and the creation of the three Pickleball courts on a disused basketball court, though none were characterized as bids, and no dollar amounts were explained to the public.

The council didn’t act on any of this, reportedly, having only had these estimates presented to them the day of the meeting.

The cities attorney presented a draft regarding expansion of legal road usage to previously barred vehicles. No action was taken on that.

Mayor Laurel Irby asked for a motion of support for the county’s Splashpad proposal, which the council agreed with.

A public affairs officer from the small business administration arrived as the meeting was winding down. The previous week. week he appeared after the fiscal court meeting. He advised that businesses and nonprofit organizations affected by recent storms could apply for some loan assistance, if they could demonstrate an impact by those storms on their business. He added that those loans would be, at the lowest, 4 percent.