Correspondent

In addition to the usual meeting agenda of the Cumberland Gap Board of Mayor and Aldermen, considerable time was spent on the subject of preserving the historical esthetics of the town.

Seating was at a premium as town residents attended to express their concern that modern style buildings could destroy the quaint appearance and ultimately lower property values.

Resident Tammy De Brot said: "Can't we fix this please?" referring to the desire for a Historic Planning Commission to oversee architectural planning.

De Brot added that mistakes and oversights of the past should not prevent future requirements for building styles to fit in with the overall style of the city. The board agreed that such a commission is provided for but that it has been inactive for some time. The board will review the need for historic planning and readdress the issue in the September meeting.

In other business, it appears that the town will be able to pay current bills without taking funds from the money market account as has been done on other occasions in recent history. The board approved a zoning variance to permit construction of two conjoined rental cabins near the existing log cabin behind the pavilion and depot. The new building will have cedar siding or be of log construction in order to fit in with the appearance of surrounding buildings.

Town Marshall David Honeycutt reported that a fence in the town had been vandalized. He described the suspect as about 150 pounds, black, with some white on his nose and walking on four legs. Anyone spotting the errant black bear should notify 911 or the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency if it causes more problems.

Gary McGill reported that state approval has been granted for the construction of a new sewer plant and that bids will probably be solicited in the near future. He added that the U.S Environmental Protection Agency has requested that the town wait on the project because the EPA is not ready to release $250 thousand already obligated to the project. McGill and Mayor John Douglas drafted a letter to the EPA stating that the town is not willing to wait and that the money is needed now. The EPA wants to delay the funding in order to catch up with administrative work created by Hurricane Katrina last year.

Carol Campbell gave the BMA a report on the recent grant to establish U.S. 25E as a National Historic Scenic Byway. She says that efforts are underway to extend the byway for a distance of five miles either side of the road, including Cumberland Gap, to promote tourism for scenic beauty, culture, and music of this area.

In their final action of the evening the board approved Resolution 2-2006 to round up or down property taxes to the nearest even dollar. The BMA rescheduled next months meeting to 7 p.m. on Sept. 5 since the regular meeting date falls on the Labor Day holiday.