Calhoun County supervisors are considering a request to award “resort status” to Creekside Golf Club in Bruce.
Kimmy Murphree, owner of Creekside, formerly Yoda Creek, made the request to the board Friday morning. He said his intention is to construct a 6,000 square foot restaurant and reception area.
“We need to look into that,” Board Attorney Sonny Clanton said. “There’s some kind of procedure about this I need to look at.”
Murphree said it requires a petition of 100 signatures which he has, approval from the board and agreement by the sheriff’s department to patrol the area.
The board agreed to revisit it at their next meeting on Dec. 7.
In other news, the board authorized the advertisement for a new garbage truck and hiring a new worker for solid waste, but not unanimously.
Dan Reese, who oversees the county’s solid waste program, informed the board the last fiscal year was a successful one for the department with “positive cash flow,” but there is always a need to upgrade equipment.
“I think we’re in really good shape,” Reese said. “We need to replace our Mack truck with 230,000 miles. It’s near end of life and it takes about six months to get a new one in.”
Board President Barney Wade said he wanted some assurance garbage rates wouldn’t have to be raised again before he would okay a new truck.
“Why can’t we take care of what we’ve got and then not have to buy so many (trucks)?” Wade asked.
He noted several complaints he’s received about the solid waste department alleging they aren’t taking care of their equipment as they should and many less significant details around the shop, such as minor repairs and keeping the trucks clean, are being neglected.
“I can’t support this,” Wade said.
Supervisor Earnest Fox asked if it could wait until Supervisor J.B. Rogers could be present to let him have input on the issue. Rogers was absent for a family trip.
“If you need a truck, you need a truck,” Supervisor Tony Morgan said.
“We’re just advertising,” Reese said. “If you don’t like what you see, you don’t have to accept it.”
The board approved the advertisement.
They followed that by approving a request to hire R.J. Rivera for the solid waste department by a 4-1 vote with Wade voting against.
“They’ve got enough help,” Wade said.
The board also approved a new ordinance that would prohibit the sale of caffeine pills to anyone 18-years-old or younger. The law was first requested by Jennifer Westmoreland of Water Valley at an October meeting, citing the loss of her 17-year-old son Noah who died due to an overdose of these pills.
Clanton said the ordinance issues a fine for any violators, whether stores illegally selling to a minor or an under-aged individual buying them under false pretenses.
The board also set holidays for county offices on Dec. 24-25 and Dec. 31 and Jan. 1.