The Planning Commission had heard conflicting reports about the official status of Building Inspector Bobby Ray. At last week’s meeting, Police Chief Brian Young explained the two separate aspects of Ray’s job to the commissioners.
Ray serves simultaneously as code enforcement officer and building inspector. The latter enforces standards for construction and can issue citations for violations. The code enforcement officer can enforce any city ordinance. “He has two part-time jobs in one,” Young said. “That’s where a lot of confusion comes from.” Young also said Ray is certified as a police officer, to give him the authority to enforce those ordinances.
Commissioner Fergie Stewart thanked Young for attending and for clearing up the questions. Stewart then asked if working traffic control takes away from Ray’s time as building inspector. Young said Ray juggles his schedule to do traffic control as a volunteer on his lunch hour. Ray also donates time for traffic control on weekends.
Commissioners continued a discussion on parking and voted to take a plan to Mayor Butch Berry for approval to establish residential parking zones in several areas. Those streets include Elk, Pine, and Mountain, and a portion of Spring Street from Crescent Drive to the Rosalie House. Other streets may follow. Benton Street fills up during the day with shop owners and others working downtown. Commissioners initially suggested a time of 6 p.m. to 6 a.m., but they decided to extend that period to 8 a.m. Otherwise, someone who makes an early trip could come back home and find all the parking spots full.
Signs will note that parking on those streets is restricted to those living on that street, not city residents in general. Commissioner Melissa Greene said most tourists will comply, even without vigorous enforcement. “This is not going to solve the problem, but it will help,” she said. Stewart suggested a color-coded curb to help draw motorists’ attention.
In other business:
- Ken and Nancy Parker received approval for a new single-family residence at 214 N. Main St.
- Brigido Tapia received approval for a new garage at 4087 E. Van Buren.
- At 454 W. Van Buren, Loblolly Pines, LLC, received approval to add a roadside cabin and three glamping sites. Showers and restrooms are already in place on the 10-acre site.
- Greene had also asked at the outset of the meeting to add a discussion of mobile homes. “We’ve had a lot of talk about affordable housing for our workers,” she said, and mobile homes “don’t have to be trashy or nasty.” Greene suggested a business owner might buy a mobile home and rent it to employees. “It’s an inexpensive way to have housing,” she concluded.
Stewart suggested tiny homes instead, which would last longer. Commissioner Tom Buford said he had lived in a city in the 1970s that started to grow, and the city built some housing reserved for people working in the city.
- Commissioner Joe Hill said he had seen some photos of people dumping trash at the site of the old Victoria Inn, and the situation has been referred to the Environmental Protection Agency.