CUMBERLAND GAP -- The Board of Mayor and Aldermen of Cumberland Gap met Monday night at city hall. Mayor John Douglas had to leave the meeting early to be with his grandchild in the hospital. Alderman George Davis was absent.

Aldermen heard from auditor Richard Hill as he presented the 2006-2007 final budget for the past fiscal year. Hill said to balance the budget the town had to hire more personnel and since that was not possible there was no other feasible way to keep the budget balanced at this time.

“You all are doing what you can do, and you are doing way more than you can do,” Hill told the Aldermen.

The town has received a replacement fire truck from FEMA and Homeland Security. While the new truck is larger and more appropriate to the need of the town, the old fire truck has to be sold and taken out of service. That was the agreement the federal government wanted in order for Cumberland Gap to get a new fire truck. Fire Chief John Adams told the aldermen the old fire truck could not be sold to a fire department. It had to be decommissioned and sold as a water truck or some other type of equipment.

Aldermen voted to sell the old fire truck on eBay at govdeal.com. The starting price will be $500 and will be advertised for two weeks. The town will have the choice to accept a bid or reject all bids.

The fire departments of Cumberland Gap and Harrogate have been working together; however, the federal government wants the agreements between the towns to be upgraded and signed off by both mayors. The new proposed agreement is basically the same as the current one, but that contract is between the fire departments. The new contract will have to be approved by both city councils as well.

Cumberland Gap agreed to work with Harrogate and will present the proposal to that city council when they next meet. In the current agreement and the proposed new one, each department will respond to their own areas and will send personnel and equipment, when needed, to assist the other.

Town Attorney Robert Estep reported a suit has been filed against the owners of the town’s beer hall and will be heard March 26 at 1 p.m. in Tazewell. The beer hall also is not current on its business licenses, according to the suit.

In other action, aldermen approved the first reading to adopt the 2006 International Building Codes. The 2006 codes are now being enforced in Cumberland Gap, as in most cases, it is more stringent than the older one that is several years old. The 2006 codes would have to be adopted as soon as the state of Tennessee does so, which is expected soon. A second reading will be held at the next meeting.

Personnel policies are to be reviewed each year. Aldermen Anne Parish, who is in charge of that meeting, suggested the section dealing with contractors and individuals be updated. That review is expected to start March 31.

Selected personnel were given keys to the town’s buildings and are not to be handed out to others.

C.J. Harte is a Correspondent for the Daily News. He can be reached via e-mail at charte@middlesborodailynews.com.