Tax and license fees money has doubled in collection, as suggested in a report from Municipal Revenue Collections LLC, given by Fulton City Manager Kenney Etherton during the Fulton City Commission meeting, May 12.
Etherton said since contracting the revenue collections agency, 163 new business license accounts have been added to the roll, as well as 82 new payroll accounts, and new accounts continue to come in daily, according to Etherton.
“I think we’ve made some headway,” said Etherton. “We’ve generated a few dollars and I think we’ll generate a few more dollars.”
The agency met with Etherton last week to review the returns, in order to make projections for next year’s budget.
The centralized dispatch issue surfaced during the city commission meeting. Etherton said he attended the Fulton County Fiscal Court meeting May 12. The original 16-member group had to be narrowed down for the decision- making regarding the dispatching unit. Seven members are to fill the board, including the police and fire chiefs from both Fulton and Hickman; the 911 coordinator, Tommy Hodges; Fulton County Sheriff; and either the jailer or coroner. The commission was asked to decide between the jailer and coroner to serve the seventh position, and commissioners voted for Jailer Ricky Parnell. Fifty-one percent of the board must be capacitated by law enforcement in order to receive any grant money toward the project.
Although commissioners gave the “go-ahead” for the dispatching unit, Mayor Elaine Forrester said, “I really have some questions about it and how it’s going to work.”
Etherton said Robin Wood, owner of Wood Communications, said there are good and bad points in suggested locations for the unit in Fulton and Hickman. Estimated cost to set up the centralized unit will be $80,000, regardless of the location.
In other business, the commission:
• accepted Kyla Cooper’s resignation from the fire department. Cooper accepted another position, which will require less driving time, as she lives in Marshall County.
• agreed to hire Barry Maynard as a firefighter/EMT. Maynard is Kentucky certified.
• approved to reappoint Barbara Pearson to the Housing Authority Board.
• gave approval for the city clerk to publish the delinquent tax list.
• congratulated Turner Dairy for their recent achievement of the Wayne Gingrich Award.
• heard an inquiry from a non-local truck driver, Dan Kelley, about street signs.
“If you do not know this town or its roads, you can easily get confused,” said Kelley.
He said Mapquest and other means of directions lead drivers to Mears Street, which has a clearance too low for drivers to pass through.
He inquired about signs at various locations throughout the city clarifying which direction truck drivers should take.
Etherton said it is a state highway department issue, and that he would contact them for Kelley.
Mayor Forrester commended the Twin Cities Ambulance Service for their recent response to her call to 911 for a woman in medical distress.
“I cannot tell you how professional the guys were. The lady was panicking and it is remarkable how they handled her,” said Forrester.
Forrester also noted the flowerbeds in town look nice, and the detention workers have been keeping the city clean.
