Pikeville votes to designate historic area
By Dennis Hill
Published in News on March 11, 2014 1:46 PM
PIKEVILLE -- The Pikeville Town Board agreed Monday to create a historic district in the town.
Board members will designate the area that includes all of Southwest and Northwest Railroad Street, all of Southeast Railroad Street and a half block of Northeast Railroad Street, a lot on East Main Street, the first block of West Main Street, a lot of West Vail Street and lots on West Church Street, along with the south side of West School Street from Northwest Railroad Street to North Mill Street and the east side of North Mill Street from West School Street to Davis Street.
The area encompasses most of the old downtown business district west of the railroad tracks and extends northward to include the town hall and public park.
In other business, the board voted 3-1 to give Town Administrator Blake Proctor oversight of the police department. Board member Todd Anderson voted against the move.
The board also agreed to take action following an inspection of the town's sewer system by state authorities. Proctor told the board that state inspectors made a surprise visit on Feb. 27 and found the town's sewer system overflowing.
It was agreed that a major part of the problem is residents who open sewer cleanouts in their yards without authorization to help drain off rainwater.
Board members agreed to fine offenders $50 upon discovery of an open cleanout and to order the closing of the cleanout for six months upon discovery of a second offense. The fine was made waivable, depending on the decision of the town administrator.
"We've got to get tough," Proctor told the board. "The state's not going to play with us."
Proctor and town board members said the town needs more sprayfield area to treat the town's excess sewage. It was agreed to seek the advice of the town's engineers and to ask the Wayne County Board of Commissioners for permission to use some of the $75,000 in trust money the county gave the town for work on the sewer tank to be used to alleviate the more pressing problem.
Board members also agreed to repaint the parking space lines downtown pink in honor of cancer awareness. Proctor said to his knowledge, no other town has done that and that it could help bring attention to Pikeville.
The town board also announced it is seeking another member for the town's cemetery committee, preferably a woman who does not have a family member already on the committee.