Seven Springs board accepts Mayor's resignation
By Bonnie Edwards
Published in News on September 9, 2004 1:59 PM
SEVEN SPRINGS -- The town board has accepted Jewel Kilpatrick's resignation as mayor.
Mayor Pro Tem Emma Ward told the Seven Springs town board Wednesday that she will try to fill in as mayor until the end of the year, but she said she wants her town commissioner seat back next year. The board will have to appoint a replacement to finish Mrs. Kilpatrick's term, which ends November 2005.
The board is finishing plans for the upcoming dedication of the Seven Springs Community Park. Invitations have been mailed, and the ceremony will be held at 10 a.m. on Sept. 25 in the park.
Ms. Ward offered to get estimates to mow the vacant FEMA lots the town inherited after the flood of 1999 destroyed several homes.
The board voted to authorize Town Commissioner Peggy Jones and Town Clerk Deanna Grady to decide whether to buy a computer system and copy machine or to lease the copy machine.
The board is still trying to decide how to use the abandoned church the town bought for a Town Hall.
If the town rents out the sanctuary for special events, the county inspections officials say the town has to build two bathrooms, one for men and one for women, and they must have eight toilets each, including one for the handicapped.
Moving the library into the building would require two bathrooms, said Town Commissioner Danny Carter. If the sanctuary is used for any purpose, he said, the 16 toilets will be required. He said he would ask county officials if the town can build just two bathrooms if the library, which would include stacks of books taking up most of the floor space, were moved into the sanctuary.
He said Larry Williams can continue renting the sanctuary until the town gains a permit. "We need a plan, some money, a permit, and maybe we can come up with $100,000 and put in what we need. ... It's going to be expensive, but we have to get moving. People are going to be asking, 'What are you doing with that building you bought with our tax dollars?'"
If the building is used only for a Town Hall, the town need only build one large unisex handicapped accessible bathroom.
Whatever the board decides to do, the town will apply for a grant to help pay for it. Carter said if the town installs just one unsex bathroom, it could cost up to $4,000.