Details to be announced closer to Independence Day

MIDDLESBORO — Plans are underway for a bigger and better Middlesboro Fourth of July celebration, city council announced at its Tuesday night meeting.

Full details will be provided closer to the event, but city street Supervisor Leeman Moyers and Councilman Gary Mills, chairman of council’s parks and recreation committee, announced that the city has budgeted more money for fireworks, so that the 2007 pyrotechnic event will be “bigger and better than ever.”

Arrangements are being made to provide up to 1,500 servings of hot dogs, ice cream, chips and nachos and other edible treats, the committee announced in its meeting prior to the 20-minute council meeting.

The events, which will begin at noon Wednesday, July 4, will include music by Dark Ridge, S&S Express and Alex Leach & Red Oak Mountain, all of which are scheduled to perform at least twice throughout the day at the Civic Center. Fireworks will begin at dusk, which is expected to occur around 9:30 p.m., and will take place across from the Kroger parking lot.

In addition, the city swimming pool will be open on Independence Day.

In other business at the fast-paced council meeting, council approved, without public discussion, by a vote of 8-0 (Councilman Hank Barnes was not present), an ordinance adopting the city’s annual budget for fiscal year July 1, 2007 through June 30, 2008.

Council voted 7-1 (Councilman Everett “Mammaw” Gulley abstained) to accept the finance committee’s recommendation that Mountain Valley Insurance be accepted as insurance provider for certain employee-related issues.

Councilman Ronnie Carter moved that council look into the purchase of a new ambulance for the fire department in the coming year.

It was noted by council that the Glacier Girl will be returning briefly to Middlesboro this week before moving on to its new home. It was also noted that the railroad crossing behind Wal-Mart will be closed for repairs starting Thursday.

Moyers announced that there is quite a lot of old firewood available for pickup by the public at the old city sewer plant.

City code enforcement officer J.C. Meredith, responding to comments and questions from a member of the audience, reported that since December, 35 properties have been condemned by the city. Eighteen have been removed, seven at the city’s expense, because no owner could be located. Seven other property owners have been taken to court. Of these, one has been released from further action, as the property has been razed. Another has been given more time to complete major improvements already underway. The others are showing signs of improvements and no further action is scheduled, Meredith said, adding that he would not discuss questions about deadlines for specific properties.

James-Clifton Spires is senior staff writer for the Daily News. His e-mail address is jcspires@middlesborodailynews.com.