Coffeeville Updates Dog Ordinance

Staff Report

COFFEEVILLE – Aldermen discussed Johnson’s Recreation Center and a building owned by Larry Moody at the regular meeting of the Board on Oct. 6.

According to the minutes of the meeting, Mayor Mack Burns told the Board that William Shelton was asking that the Town not grant the recreation center a privilege license for the coming year.

In a letter to city officials, Shelton referred to sections of the Town’s zoning ordinance that does not allow such establishments in R2 residential areas.

However, the recreation center was already in business when the zoning laws went into effect, meaning that the business is grandfathered in, the minutes stated.

Mayor Burns and Town Attorney William L. Maxey offered the opinion that the Town could not legally deny the issuance of a privilege license to the business without proper cause.

The Mayor added that he had talked with Police Chief Mark Martin and Martin had informed him that there were no complaints on the business.

Next, board members were told that the building owned by Larry Moody on Kennedy Street was being turned into an apartment since it couldn’t be used as a commercial structure.

The board took no action on the recreation center or the Moody building.

Among other actions, the Board of Aldermen:

• Authorized Mayor Burns to sign all documents related to an ARC grant to repaint the Town’s water tanks. Under the TVA administered grant, the Town would contribute an estimated $50,545 to the project.

• Heard from the Mayor that the updated dog ordinance is being developed and should be ready in time for the November meeting.

•  Paid Claims.

Attending the meeting were Mayor Burns and Aldermen Michael Ayers, Joe Bourn, George Miller, Bryan McCullough, Eva Longstreet. Also present were Town Clerk Patricia Moody and Town Attorney William L. Maxey.