By John Howell
Friday’s recess meeting of Batesville’s board of mayor and aldermen focused primarily on Polar Express Train Ride preparations.

Using guidelines that allow Batesville Main Street to establish and operate Square Market for farmers without requiring each vendor to apply for a conditional use permit in the Public Square, city officials set Tuesday, Oct. 20 as the date for an “umbrella” hearing for Polar Express ventures.

The order allows special events, signage and sales from temporary portable buildings and temporary structures related to Polar Express activities in the C-1 commercial zone on the Public Square.

“This will be the public hearing for that, and then anybody else — it would be an umbrella, anything related to Polar Express — they would still have to come to y’all and …  and get y’all’s approval,” Code Administrator Pam Comer said.

In another Polar Express-related decision, Mayor Jerry Autrey requested and received from aldermen permission to spend an additional $1,525 for repair of the rail spur that crosses Highway 35 North and leads into the W.M. Harmon Industrial Complex. The spur will house the Polar Express the train is not in use.

Autrey had originally asked for and received commitments from the Panola Partnership, the Panola County Board of Supervisors and the Panola County Industrial Development Authority to spend $12,000 for temporary repairs, originally estimated at $48,875. When the rail construction company found the need for additional repair, “I’m asking us, rather than me going back and trying to get $400 more out of them, to give them $13,525.

Aldermen approved the request 3 to 0 with aldermen Teddy Morrow, Bill Dugger and Eddie Nabors approving the request. Aldermen Stan Harrison did not attend Friday’s meeting. Alderman Ted Stewart arrived a few minutes after the rail vote.

The city officials also discussed city decorations on Public Square buildings and for corridors leading into the city.

“In the same vein …, we’ve looked at redoing the lights around the buildings; they need replacing,” Nabors said.

“I’m glad you brought this up,” said Dugger, who expressed reservation about having city employees climbing onto private buildings.

Aldermen agreed to having lights outlining buildings installed by employees using lifts and using adhesive fasteners to avoid nails or screws.

The city officials also laid plans to mount brackets and decorative banners on the street lights on the Highway 6 corridor at I-55.