By John Howell Sr.

City officials moved another step closer to purchasing a second new fire truck for the Batesville Fire Department during their October 1 meeting after receiving approval from the Panola County Board of Supervisors to apply directly for $70,000 from the state’s Rural Fire Truck Acquisition Assistance Program.

Batesville Fire Department Chief Tim Taylor brought the grant application paperwork back to the mayor and aldermen after appearing with Mayor Jerry Autrey before supervisors last month. Supervisors had also approved Batesville’s request that an additional $100,000 in county funds to help pay for the $389,000 truck be available on delivery.

Aldermen unanimously approved Taylor’s request for the city to apply for the grant that will fund the second truck that the State Fire Ratings Bureau has deemed necessary for the Batesville department to continue responding to alarms outside municipal limits while maintaining its present Class Six rating.

The fire chief also provided city officials information that show BFD Fire and Life Safety Officer James Snider had made fire prevention presentations to 2,400 children and 1,500 adults from June through Sept. BFD fire prevention contacts included the placement of 111 smoke detectors in homes, according to the report.

In police department business during the October 1 meeting, Police Chief Tony Jones reported the resignation of officer Christopher Knott. Aldermen voted unanimously to accept the resignation.

For the Batesville Civic Center, aldermen unanimously approved the construction of a 1,465-foot fence along the east side of the property at its boundary with Tri-Lakes Medical Center where construction of medical offices is underway.

BCC director Roy Hyde presented quotes from two vendors for two-rail and three-rail vinyl fences. Aldermen chose a three-rail fence on the lower bid of Oxford Fence Company for $12,130.

Aldermen also approved Hyde’s request that the city provide $6,500 for use by the Panola Partnership in the promotion of civic center events. The city officials had approved a like amount last year from promotion of the UKC Winter Classic.

“How long have we got that for? Three more years?” an alderman asked.
“Yes,” Hyde replied.

In January, the Batesville Civic Center hosted for the first time the United Kennel Club’s Winter Classic Coon Hunt and Show, attracting dog owners and trainers from across the southeast for the three-day event.