Pikeville explores creating merchants association
By Dennis Hill
Published in News on June 5, 2013 1:46 PM
PIKEVILLE -- The town of Pikeville might not have a chamber of commerce, but if new Town Administrator Blake Proctor has his way it might soon have a merchants association.
Proctor, who took over as town administrator last month, said he has visited with most of the town's business owners and suggested the idea of a merchants group. Most seem interested, he said.
Proctor said he is considering asking business owners to gather for a meeting to discuss the possibility of creating a merchants association as a way of improving Pikeville's business climate.
"I believe if you bring people on board you make the town's citizens stakeholders," Proctor said. He made the comments to the town board at its meeting Monday night.
Proctor said he also is in the process of updating the town's website and suggested the town consider holding a contest to come up with a town slogan.
In other business, the board approved a resolution opposing federal efforts to eliminate the federal tax exemption on interest earned from municipal bonds.
The change, if implemented, would hurt municipalities, board members said.
"This is a nationwide attempt to get the feds off our back," Proctor said.
Also, the town was asked to sell a 1.2 acre piece of property in the Collingwood area to James Teachey. The lot is located next to a lot owned by Teachey. He said that if the town sells him the lot he would combine the two and look to building several small houses on the combined parcel.
Board members seemed receptive, noting that it could add to the town's tax base, but took no action and discussed the issue in closed session.
The board also adopted a schedule of budget work session in preparation for adoption of the town budget for 2013-14.