Representatives from the Washington County Health Department and volunteers from Tobacco Free Washington County visited the Town of Caryville during their regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday, May 8 to pass a resolution disagreeing on the local sale of candy-flavored tobacco targeting youth in Caryville. Guest speaker and volunteer for Tobacco Free Washington County Milton Brown came before the council to answer any questions and address any concerns the council may have about the resolution. “We’ve got a small town and smoking is bad but imagine the revenue that it would be taking away from us,” said Chairman Henry Chambers.
Brown assured that it wasn’t a law that was being passed, just a request that the local convenient store not sale candy-flavored tobacco. “This is just requesting that the store not sale candy-flavored tobacco, excluding menthol, which is blatantly targeting our youth towards tobacco products,” said Brown. “This is just a resolution saying you disagree with what they’re doing.” Town Attorney Lyndia Spears concurred that it wasn’t a law-binding contract, just a request. “It won’t prevent them from selling it, it’s just the town saying they disagree with these tobacco companies targeting children,” said Spears. The Town approved of the resolution. Chambers then informed the council that there was a light out at the basketball court and that Gulf Power would need to be notified to see about replacing it.
Spears informed the council that they have yet to hear back from Gulf Power. During the previous meeting on Tuesday, April 10 Spears reported that she was able to talk with a representative from Gulf Power about the town’s proposal. Caryville Town Council approved to pursue a settlement with Gulf Power during their regularly scheduled meeting on March 13 after a lumber company recently employed by the town cut down trees on land owned by Gulf Power. “The Town of Caryville’s land borders Gulf Power’s land and the man we hired went too far when he was cutting,” explained Caryville Town Attorney Lyndia Spears.
“Unfortunately we are unable to see how much money he received for the amount of trees he cut and if that money was included to the city when he paid for the trees.” Spears said that Gulf Power estimated an amount by the stumps left on their land, but instead of charging the town with the amount they would usually receive for their trees from their contractor, which would’ve been estimated at over $9,000 and decided to go with what the town would’ve received, which is $5,272. Since the town council agreed that they didn’t authorize for the contractor to cut down the trees, the council approved to pursue only paying half of the $5,272, which is $2,686. The council is also going to see about paying the amount to Gulf Power in payments while looking into getting the contractor to pay the other half. “Just going to court alone would cost over $4,000 in legal fees,” said Spears.
“It would be best at this point to minimize the damages as much as possible.” She said she spoke with the representative and the representative said that he would present it to his superiors and he would contact her with a reply. Also during the last meeting the Town approved of the request of owner of Paron’s Produce at Caryville Flee Market, Paron Beeco, to pay half of the $250 to place a light pole at the flee market so they could have power. “We’re still willing to pay half if you pay the other half,” said Chambers. Beeco informed the council that he was having trouble getting the other three venders to pay their portion. “They just don’t seem to understand where the money’s going and I can’t get them to understand it’s so that we can have electricity at the flee market,” said Beeco. “So as soon as I can get them to give me the money I’ll be down here to pay.”
Chamber said that the offer still stands because the request has already been approved and they await payment. Resident Bobby Hipburn was present to inform the council that his water bill had drastically spiked the previous month and that the records would indicate that he normally has the minimum required payment every month. “We checked and there isn’t a leak, we just think it might be because it’s an old meter skipping,” said Hipburn. “I just want you to look into it and credit me the extra money on the next bill.” The council agreed to credit Hipburn’s account for the next billing cycle. The next regularly scheduled meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. on Tuesday, June 12 at the Caryville Town Hall.
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