CUMBERLAND GAP - As the fiscal year for 2005-06 draws to a close, the Town of Cumberland Gap is still struggling financially as the board voted to use money for the trail to pay all the bills for the rest of this fiscal year at Monday's (June 5th) town meeting.
Town recorder Linda Moyers suggested that the aldermen have one more budget workshop and a special called meeting to address some other issues.
Along the financial lines, when it comes to waste collection, town residents may see an increase in their garbage rates in the future if the town doesn't find other alternatives.
As of now, each household pays $8 per month for garbage pick-up. The collection is done by two town employees.
However, with the expenses and recent fuel prices, the town discovered they are losing roughly $4,000 each year by doing it themselves. The two options the town has is to either raise the rates or contract the waste pick-up out.
"We've got to find out if there is a contracting firm that will do this," said Aldermen Bill MacGafee. "I don't see anything wrong with soliciting bids on it."
The board voted to put bids out for the trash pick-up, however, Mayor John Douglas pointed out that it was only to gain estimates and see if they could find another way of making up the cost without raising the pick-up rates.
In other business, Alderperson Joan Webb reported that water loss for the town was down slightly by one percent - going from 38 percent in April to 37 in May. She said the water usage from LMU was also down this month.
During the streets and parks report, the mayor suggested the town get some estimates on the removal of a large oak tree that is dying and could pose a potential threat to damaging the walking trail if it were to fall.
"If the limbs come down, it will damage the trail," said Gary McGill (town engineer of McGill Associates).
The town will be having it's annual Crazy Aunt Sadie's Yard Sale from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. in town on Saturday, June 10th. For spaces and more information, people can call the town hall. If bad weather settles in, the event will be held June 17.
The Town of Cumberland Gap will have a budget workshop on June 19th at 6 p.m. and a special called meeting on June 26th prior to the discussion session for the July agenda.
The regular monthly meeting for July will be held a week later on July 10th.
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