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Anthony Cloud

Staff Writer

Memories of councilman C.A. “Buddy” Massengill still float amongst the members of the Middlesboro City Council. During the regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday, the council passed a resolution in honor of Massengill.

The resolution stated that Avondale Park will be named C.A. “Buddy” Massengill Park because of all the good deeds Massengill did while he served on the city council. Massengill was also instrumental in the development of Avondale Park.

Massengill served on various committees while in office. He served as chairman of the parks and recreation committee and worked hard on the annual 4th of July celebration held each year. He made sure that food, entertainment and fireworks were provided for the citizens.

At Tuesday’s meeting, the council also accepted a resignation from city attorney Robert B. Bowling, who recently accepted a position as a United States Administrative Law Judge. He began working in the position on June 17.

Bowling had served as city attorney since Jan. 4, 2000. In his written resignation letter, he recommended that the city council consider his former law partner Shea Dunn Yoakum as their next city attorney, stating that the transition would be “seamless”.

Yoakum will continue to work with the city council for now. Mayor Kelley stated that he has not had a chance to sit with Yoakum and talk about a long-term commitment regarding the city attorney position. Kelley is the individual who will choose the city attorney, but the council has to approve his decision.

It was also announced that another resignation had been handed in prior to the beginning of the city council meeting. Discover Downtown Middlesboro Director Casey Thomas handed her resignation in last week. No details were given regarding her resignation.

Thomas helped organize special events in downtown Middlesboro such as several block parties, Nightmare on 20th Street, the Ducky Dash, the Christmas Extravaganza and many more.

An amendment made to the Middlesboro annual budget passed its second reading at the meeting. The majority of the amendments were made to the general fund.

Revenue on the budget increased, due to bond income from firefighters back pay, by $262,000. The intergovernmental revenue also increased because of FEMA revenue from the flood and an NRCS grant. The FEMA revenue totaled out at $294,250 while the NRCS brought in $373,500.

In the committee reports, street department chair Gary Mills asked about the possibility of cleaning the curbs and gutters around the city. It may be possible to use residents from the boys home to do the job. It was also announced that an order for street signs had been placed.

Parks and recreation chair Kevin Barnett announced that the Fourth of July Celebration will begin at noon on July 4, which is on Wednesday this year. The celebration will include free food and soft drinks, live bands and other entertainment. Council members will also be present at the event.

Yard sale signs are a growing concern for the councilman Ronnie Carter. “I’m not against yard sales …, but these signs that they are posting up on telephone poles and stop signs are hazardous,” said Carter. Carter’s main concern is the signs obstructing the vision of drivers.

Kelley stated that he would have to check and see what can be done because it can be a safety issue.

Community development chairman, Bo Green stated that the committee would hold their next meeting on July 10 at 5:30 p.m.

Other business taken care of included:

• Entrance of reports

• Entrance of city bills paid

• Approval of minutes of previous regular and special called meetings.

• Consideration of an ordinance repealing a previously entered ordinance enacted for mandated unpaid overtime for firefighters (it was later superseded by an emergency ordinance

which approved the issuance of bonds to satisfy this requirement).

Anthony Cloud is a staff writer for the Middlesboro Daily News. He can be contacted via e-mail at acloud@heartlandpublications.com.