By John Howell
Batesville’s mayor and aldermen will meet one hour earlier for today’s Third Tuesday meeting for a work session to consider the remodeling of the city hall building.
The 1 p.m. starting time will allow for a presentation from a representative of Belinda Stewart Architects who is expected to show remodeling proposals for the College Street structure.
New businesses on Square
Aldermen are also expected to hear from two entrepreneurs who want to open businesses on the Public Square, according to the meeting itinerary released Friday.
Tanya Hollingsworth is expected to seek city officials’ permission to open Tanya’s Bakery and Bistro at 131 Public Square. The building was most recently leased by the city during November and December, 2015 for use as a hospitality room for Polar Express guests. It long housed a Sterling’s variety store. Jan Williams is the building’s owner.
Olivia Taylor will seek permission to open a wellness center to be called LivLoveYoga at 141 Public Square, a building which recently housed Madi Kay’s children’s clothing. Mike Fudge is the building’s owner.
For Hollingsworth and Taylor, meeting with the mayor and aldermen is the first step to establish their businesses because of a moratorium on city-issued occupancy permits from the Batesville Code Enforcement officer. Aldermen have implemented the moratorium while a new zoning classification for the downtown Square buildings is under development. During the moratorium, business people like Hollingsworth and Taylor, seeking to open businesses in downtown buildings must first get approval from the mayor and aldermen. With that approval they will then go to the Batesville Planning Commission.
‘Library Express’ funding
Batesville librarian Hanna Lee will ask city officials for an additional $15,000 in funding to support a “Library Express” program that includes a van and staffing reminiscent of the old Bookmobile that once provided library services to rural Panola County.
The Library Express would allow service for children and adults who are unable to get to the library, according to a statement provided by the library for city officials. The $15,000 would bring the city’s support to $228,200 for the 2017 fiscal year.
Humane Society request
Panola County Humane Society (PCHS) President Margaret Eubanks is also expected at today’s meeting. Eubanks is seeking to renew a service agreement between PCHS and the city that allows PCHS volunteers to provide foster care, spay/neuter services and medicines for animals at the city’s pound. The agreement also calls for the city to match, up to $3,500, half of the expenses for medical care for the animals.
PCHS is also asking for permission to place a small storage building at the pound site to store the food and medicines it dispenses there.
Other visitors expected at today’s meeting include Shirley Coffey who plans to request use of the St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church building on the second and fourth Sundays of the month.
Calandra Shegog is scheduled to request, on behalf of the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority’s Oxford Alumnae Chapter, permission to hold  5K color walk/run Saturday, September 3, on a route to begin and end at Kroger and would include Keating Road, Brewer Road, Lakewood and Shamrock.
Ruby Fowler is seeking permission to hold the Fifth Annual St. Jude Walkathon at Trussell Park on Saturday, October 8.