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Erwin board approves CDBG sidewalk resolution, OKs culvert repair and poultry ordinance on first reading
Summary
At its Jan. 13 meeting, the Erwin Board of Mayor and Aldermen approved Resolution No. 1317‑25 for CDBG sidewalks, awarded a bid to inspect and design repairs for the McInturff Branch culvert, advanced a poultry ordinance on first reading and approved a personnel-policy amendment; Mayor Glenn White gave an EMS update naming Jimmy Erwin interim director.
The Board of Mayor and Aldermen of the Town of Erwin met Jan. 13, 2025, and approved several routine and infrastructure actions, including a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) sidewalk resolution, a 30‑day first phase contract to assess a damaged culvert on Main Avenue, and a first reading update to the town's poultry code.
Mayor Glenn White opened the meeting at 5:30 p.m. and recorded Mayor Glenn White, Alderman Michael Baker, Vice Mayor James "Mickey" Hatcher and Alderwoman Cathy Huskins present; Alderman Gary Chandler and Alderwoman Angie Vaughn were absent.
The board approved the Dec. 9, 2024 meeting minutes on a motion by Vice Mayor Hatcher and second by Alderwoman Huskins.
Why it matters: Resolution No. 1317‑25 ties the town to CDBG sidewalk work that can affect pedestrian safety and access downtown; the culvert work addresses a localized flooding and infrastructure risk beneath the former Parsley Insurance building on Main Avenue.
The board voted to approve Resolution No. 1317‑25, described on the agenda as related to CDBG sidewalks. The meeting minutes record a roll call in support of the resolution.
On emergency and personnel matters, Mayor White reported that Jimmy Erwin was unable to attend the meeting but said, "After numerous changes in leadership, the Board has confirmed Mr. Jimmy Erwin as interim director," referring to Erwin's role with the regional EMS board; Mayor White and Alderwoman Huskins both endorsed that decision and asked that Mr. Erwin present an update at the next BMA meeting.
In engineering business, Jonathan Shipley of Thompson & Litton Engineering advised the board that the recommended bid for the McInturff Branch culvert repair is for a first-phase contract to open the culvert, determine the damage and design the permanent repair. "The intent of the initial phase is a thirty-day contract," Shipley said. The board accepted the recommendation of the low bidder, Taft and Frye, and approved the contract award on a roll-call vote.
The board also approved an amendment to the personnel policy addressing the death of an employee, and granted permission for Teresa Simerly, Clerk and Master for Unicoi County Chancery Court, to place the minimum bid on certain properties listed within town limits.
On ordinances, the board approved on first reading an update to the Tennessee Code Annotated (2005 Code), '''''§ 10 concerning poultry inside town limits; the change passed its first reading and will return for further consideration under the town's ordinance process.
What's next: The board set its next regular meeting for Monday, Jan. 27, 2025, at 5:30 p.m. Several items approved at this meeting (including the culvert contract and the poultry ordinance) will require follow-up steps by staff for implementation or subsequent readings.
