Clinton Fiscal Court held a special call meeting last Thursday morning with all members present and three items of business on the agenda. Among the items was discussion of the Wellness Center financial status and a separate article on that issue appears beginning on page 1.

Two other, more positive, issues were discussed and acted on during the approximate 45-minute session.

The court first considered a request from Bell Engineering requesting the county grant Navitas Utility Corporation an easement within a county road right-of-way to accommodate Keystone Foods in obtaining natural gas to property.

Judge/Executive Lyle Huff said the only area where the line would cross county property was on McWhorter Road.

The request noted the engineering firm was working with Navitas to extend gas service to Keystone Foods, noting the line will lie within road right-of-way for the majority of the project. They requested permission to lay the line within the McWhorter Road right-of-way, including crossing the road using the boring method.

Following a brief discussion, a motion was made by Magistrate Mickey Riddle to approve the easement for the line, which passed by unanimous vote.

Dr. Robert Williams, Manager of the local Keystone Foods plant, said he was excited about the natural gas project, mentioning the most recent winter where propane became in short supply at times. He said the natural gas project would be of great benefit to the poultry industry in this area, as well as an economic asset.

Judge Huff also said the installation of natural gas lines to the county’s largest single employer would help maintain the jobs at the plant, thus helping the positive economic impact it has on the county.

The court was also presented a resolution in support of a grant application from the Land and Water Conservation Fund, administered through the Department of Local Government. The grant, if approved, would be used to upgrade the playground area at Mountain View Park.

The same grant application was denied a couple of years ago, but it is hoped funding will be available for the project in this funding cycle.

The county and city are apparently applying jointly for the 50/50 matching grant, with the estimated cost of the project being $60,000. The two government entities would help fund the remaining 50 percent match and could use “in-kind” services in part to complete the project cost.

The Recreation/Park Board has been working for the past several months to come up with enough money to purchase new playground equipment and improve the overall playground area at Mountain View Park. The board has held some fundraisers over the past months, usually raising a few hundred dollars at a time, but the amount–which is set aside in a separate playground fund–could also be used as part of the match if the grant is approved.

A motion was made by Magistrate Ricky Craig to approve the resolution in support of the grant application. The motion passed by unanimous vote.

The next regular meeting of fiscal court is scheduled for May 15 at 5 p.m. and is open to the public.