BREAKING NEWS 2
Published 12:00 am Monday, February 8, 2016

City will contact owners of land adjoining that portion of Gowdy Street it is considering for abandonment.
By John Howell
For the City of Batesville to abandon Gowdy Street, three property owners with lots adjoining the street must waive any damage claims, assistant City Attorney Colmon Mitchell told the mayor and aldermen Tuesday.
Contractor Tommy Caine, who has purchased property served by the one-way street that extends from Eureka Street alongside the Eureka Building, had asked to purchase the street from the city to allow construction of three homes. Caine and several adjacent property owners appeared at a public hearing Tuesday to consider his request.
“I’d like to clean that corner up,” Caine said. He cited the city’s recent help with repairing a sewage leak on the property. “I’ve also (taken) down all the old apartments that were over there.”
“Before I can clean the lot or put dirt in there I need approval to get some property from the city right here so that I can develop this and have it surveyed and plotted off like it should be,” Caine said.
“How many houses you figure on building over there?” Alderman Stan Harrison asked.
“Three,” Caine replied.
“All in order? How’re they going to be?” Harrison continued.
“Side by side,” Caine said. He also said he had an option to purchase another house adjacent to the property.
“When the city abandons a street, the title to the street goes to the property owners on each side of it,” Mitchell said. “The statute requires the city to compensate the adjoining property owners for any damages.”
Aldermen voted unanimously to take Caine’s request under advisement while the attorney contacts the three people who, in addition to Caine, own property that adjoins Gowdy Street.
They will be asked if they will be willing to waive damages, Mitchell said.
In another public hearing held during Tuesday’s regular meeting of the board of mayor and aldermen, aldermen also gave unanimous approval for sign changes sought by Heafner Motors.