Chad Abshire

Staff Writer

WILLIAMSON — A variety of topics were discussed during the most August meeting of the Williamson City Council.

The entire council was present besides city attorney C. Christopher Younger and Councilman York Smith.

“We’re looking forward to getting Mr. Smith back, as I’m sure he’s looking forward to coming back,” Mayor Darrin McCormick said.

After the usual introduction of beginning with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, the minutes of the previous meeting and the general fund bills were both passed unanimously. Afterwards, a resolution was read regarding Suddenlink’s change in service, as there had been an ownership change. However, customers wouldn’t see any change in service.

Later, Sarah Jones, Fundraising Coordinator for the Muscular Dystrophy Association, approached the council, thanking the Williamson Fire Department’s continued efforts for the MDA’s Fill the Boot fundraiser. The WFD collected, according to Jones, approximately $4,000 in 2011.

Jones said that the WFD’s contributions have helped fund camps and research at no cost to kids who are suffering from muscular dystrophy. The MDA also proclaimed September to be WFD appreciation month.

On Friday, the WFD raised a total of $5,200 for the MDA during this year’s Fill the Boot fundrasier, a new record, in nine hours.

The council also discussed purchasing a new lawnmower as the one the city had “basically broke in two.”

“With the grass still growing, we’re going to need one,” McCormick said.

The old mower had a number of repairs done to it and had been in service since around 2000. Jason Allen, Project Manager with Veolia Water, said that he went to three dealerships before finally settling on a tractor/mower from Kubota for $12,800.

“It is $3,000 less than the next cheapest one we saw and has a better warranty, a five-year powertrain warranty,” Allen said to the council. “It also has capabilities for attachments like buckets and brooms.”

Allen said he was able to testdrive it and said that it would do the job.

The council agreed to purchase the mower after a brief discussin.

“Thank you council,” McCormick said. “We desperately need it.”

Near the end of the meeting, the mayor praised Williamson Chief of Police C.D. Rockel and Mingo County Sheriff-Elect Eugene Crum for their efforts in an August drug bust and wiretapping case.

McCormick said that it was good to see two agencies working together, but that the Chief’s wife, Councilwoman Connie Rockel “needs to make sure you don’t overdo it because of your health.”

“You’re doing a good job and we want to keep you around a long time,” McCormick said.

He also went back to the topic of teamwork, saying, “working together is something we all need to do.”

McCormick also praised Fire Chief Jerry Mounts for the WFD’s response to an August fire in East End.

Speaking to both Mounts and Rockel, McCormick said:

“You all earn the money we pay.”

The Williamson City Council meets every second and fourth Thursday of the month at 6 p.m. at Williamson City Hall. The meeting is open to the public.