By John Howell
The newly-opened road long referred to the “connector road” was officially named House-Carlson Drive  during Tuesday’s meeting of Batesville’s mayor and aldermen.
A ribbon-cutting Thursday, July 28, officially extended House-Carlson Drive southward to a connection with Pine Lodge Road. The road provides a route to the Walmart shopping center area and to Merit Health Batesville as a local alternative to heavily-traveled Highway 6.
Tuesday’s unanimous vote by aldermen made the name official. Aldermen also approved an ordinance prohibiting dogs and vehicles in the pedestrian lane on the new street’s east side. The ordinance excepts service dogs, bicycles and wheelchairs from the prohibition. It provides a fine of $100 for having a dog in the lane and ascending fines from $250, $500, and $500 plus vehicle confiscation for first through third and subsequent vehicle violations. The language also provides for placing a sign warning about dogs.
Speed limit signs of 40 miles per hour have been posted on the route.
Aldermen adopted a similar prohibition for dogs and vehicles at the Batesville Mounds site on Highway 35 North. Dogs and vehicles were excluded from the Trussell Park walking trail last year.
In other city business at August’s First Tuesday meeting:
• Aldermen during a public hearing approved a setback variance requested by Rodney and Jillian Johnson that will allow construction of a pool at their 240 Brooks Street home;
• Aldermen also approved a request by Josh Wolfe of Design Team for a digital message center sign at Hardee’s Restaurant.
“You got Hardee’s looking good,” Alderman Stan Harrison said.
Wolfe said that the exterior renovation is part of a nationwide project for the fast food chain;
• Aldermen approved Fire Chief Tim Taylor’s request for security light at the Broome-Florence Training Facility;
• Taylor also requested and received permission for the Batesville Fire Department’s Fire Safety Trailer to be used at Charleston’s Gateway to the Delta Festival in October;
• Aldermen agreed to ask the county to enter into a joint agreement with the city to resurface Bethlehem Road;
• Aldermen approved a one-year lease from the South Panola School District of the Atwell Street Auditorium, the Boothe Street Gym and a classroom for city-sponsored recreational activities for $5,000.