Pikeville puts end to gunfire at spray field
By Matthew Whittle
Published in News on February 20, 2011 1:50 AM
The sound of gunfire should be even more rare in and around Pikeville after town commissioners adopted a new firearm ordinance at a recent meeting.
The ordinance, said town administrator Kathie Fields, was approved to keep people from discharging firearms at the town's spray field off U.S. 117. She explained that the town already had an ordinance prohibiting gunfire in town, but that this piece of property is outside town limits.
The new ordinance prohibits gunfire on any town property. Violations would be punishable by a fine of up to $250 and a 30-day jail sentence.
Ms. Fields also said the commissioners discussed expanding the town's load management program, which is a voluntary effort that allows people to have their hot water heaters and heat pumps turned off at various times of peak usage to not only save them money, but also to save the town money and to alleviate the strain on the electrical system. She said currently there are 51 people on the program, with another 15 on a waiting list, and that town employees are in the process of evaluating how well the effort is working.
Other business included discussion on a necessary update to the town's 2004 emergency plan, which describes how the town plans for and deals with such events as floods, snowstorms and man-made disasters. Additionally, she said, the commissioners heard information about a possible graffiti ordinance, something the town does not currently have, and the need to add some more "teeth" to its sign ordinance. Although, she added, "at this time we're not specifically changing anything."
And, she said, the commissioners agreed to take a look at the penalties for all of the town's ordinances, with an eye at raising some of the fines from their current $50 levels. However, she said, there were no specific ones discussed.
"That will be discussed again at our next meeting," Ms. Fields said.
And finally, James Moore announced that a new American Legion post has been formed in Pikeville -- Post 541 -- that will meet at the Pikeville Community Building on the third Tuesday of each month at 7 p.m.
Speaking Thursday, Moore said the post currently has 20 to 25 members and that on March 17, the post will officially receive its temporary charter.