Council drops $73,000 tax lien against
North American Polyester
By Bob Robinson
Star Staff
Elizabethton City Council last night awarded
contracts, totaling $1.9 million, on three related projects
to improve water quality at its Big Springs Filtration Plant
and dropped a $73,000 tax lien against North American Polyester
for delinquent personal property taxes.
Frizzell Construction Co., 1501 Bluff City Highway,
Bristol, Tenn., was awarded contracts, totaling $1.6 million,
for water plant improvements and filter media replacement
at the Big Springs Filtration Plant.
Mike Smith Pump Service, 3625 Highway 25E, of
Bean Station, Tenn., was awarded a contract, totaling $337,980,
for the Max Jett Road water line.
Funds for the above projects will be paid from
the State Revolving Loan fund in the amount of $2 million,
Mayor Sam LaPorte said after the meeting.
Council also voted to remove a $73,000 personal
property tax lien against North American Polyester for delinquent
taxes.
City Attorney Roger Day told Council that the
personal property was removed from the facility sometime between
1996 and 1997 and, as a result, the tax lien was no longer
enforceable in a court of law.
Attorney Day said the property owner had agreed
to make full payment of $50,000 in delinquent real property
taxes "if the personal property tax lien was removed."
Mayor LaPorte asked Attorney Day if Carter County,
which joined the City of Elizabethton in the tax suit, was
in agreement. Day replied "Yes."
Council also authorized Attorney Day to file
suit in Chancery Court against property owners in the City
of Elizabethton who refuse to comply with City Code Enforcement.
Mayor LaPorte asked Attorney Day to "warn violators
one last time" before taking them to court.
In other action, Council:
* Approved an amendment to the current budget,
adding $161,000 in funds from the Federal Emergency Management
Agency (FEMA) for flood-related projects.
* Amended the contract with the Tennessee Department
of Environment and Conservation, from $5.7 million to $3.3
million in lieu of a performance bond, for financial assurance
in closure and post closure requirements related to the Carter
County-Elizabethton Sanitary Landfill which was closed in
1999;
* Amended the contract with the Tennessee Department
of Environment and Conservation, from $61,910 to $59,772 in
lieu of a performance bond, for financial assurance in closure
and post closure requirements related to the City of Elizabethton's
composting facility;
* Authorized the State of Tennessee grant application
for $5,000 for the Veterans Memorial Park project;
* Awarded a bid for demolition, site grading
and removal of debris from 700 Fifth Street, according to
FEMA hazard mitigation guidelines;
* Passed on first reading an ordinance to close
portion of alley between Holston and Cedar Avenues recommended
by the Elizabethton Planning Commission;
* Approved Summers-Taylor invoice, totaling $7,749,
for asphalt overlays at the Wastewater Treatment Plant;
* Approved $28,520 for the support of the Carter
County Health Department for the 2001-2002 fiscal year, representing
a $5,000 increase over 2000-2001. During the same period,
the state appropriation to the Carter County Health Department
was decreased from $487,856 to $454,600;
* Approved bids and purchases, totaling $54,310,
including $8,800 for traffic signal emitters for the Elizabethton
Fire Department to change traffic signals while responding
to emergencies, and $14,100 for 200 tons of cold mix materials
to patch potholes and street cuts; and,
* Reappointed Michael Lingerfelt to the Golf
Course Board for a one-year term.
In addition to Mayor LaPorte, other council members
attending last night's meeting were Sam Shipley, Pat "Red"
Bowers, Janie McKinney, Diane Morris, Nancy Alsup and Richard
Sammons.
