Steve Eaton resigned as the Mayor of Fountain Run effective at the end of last Monday night’s regular meeting of the Fountain Run City Commission. Eaton is moving out of the city limits and commissioners expressed their appreciation for his service to the community and City of Fountain Run.

Larry Shaw, who serves as Mayor Pro-tem, will preside at next month’s meeting.

————————————

Residents of the City of Gamaliel will see a four percent increase in their 2013 annual property tax following action taken at last Monday night’s regularly scheduled Gamaliel City Commission meeting.

The previous year’s tax rate was .237 cents per $100 assessed value on all taxable real property within the jurisdiction and an ad valorem tax of the same amount on assessed value on all taxable personal property.

City Attorney Richard Jackson explained that if rates did not increase by at least four percent yearly it would be much more difficult to receive any government monies, and that if the increase was more than four percent a public hearing must be held.

————————————

The new Monroe County History Museum will be open to the public for the first time on Sunday afternoon, November 3.

An open house is planned from 1 to 4 p.m. that day at the museum, which is located on the corner of Second and Magnolia Streets in Tompkinsville (the former Deckard’s Florist building.) There is no admission charge.

The museum is a project of the Monroe County Historical and Genealogical Society, and the focus will be on Monroe County History.

“The museum is a work in progress, and we are still accepting items for possible display,” said Susan Turner, chair of the H and G’s Museum Committee (407-3565 or susan.turner@uky.edu). She added that plans are to change the museum exhibits as different items become available.

Since the museum will be staffed by volunteers, future hours when the museum will be open to the public are now being organized. However, arrangements can be made in advance for the building to be open to visitors.

Anyone wishing to make such arrangements or anyone who would like to help at the museum in any way or to make a loan or donation should contact Turner or any member of the Historical Society.

The museum building is now owned by Williams Land Holdings, LLC, which has made the facility available for use as a museum.

The “old Baptist Church building” on North Main Street (across from the Tompkinsville News office) had been donated to the Historical Society several years ago by the Reed Moore family for use as a museum, and this may still be a future possibility, H and G’s members said. Grant funds are being sought to help with the cost of the extensive restoration needed to make this building usable as a public facility.

Until that time, however, plans are to use the Deckard’s Florist building to display artifacts and other items of historical significance to Monroe County.

The Historical Society also welcomes monetary donations to help fund establishment of the new museum. All donations are tax-deductible, and major donors will receive special recognition.