'Spoonbread on my mind'
City leaders hope attendance is high for this year's festival
Council briefs
Public comment
During the change in leadership at the Tourism Commission earlier this year, Nancy Conley, the incoming Tourism director told The Edge in an interview there was just too much to do and not enough hands to do it, as the Commission was at the time understaffed. As a result, the Summer Learn Shops were cancelled.
This prompted Berea resident, Jeff Hutton, an amateur astronomer and veteran Learn Shop instructor, to use the public comments at the second regularly scheduled monthly Council meeting to implore they do not let the Learn Shops fall through the cracks again.
In his address to the Council, Hutton explained how he'd lost several hundred dollars that he'd already spent on materials for the anticipated Summer Learn Shops, and would don't be able to recover it because of the cancellation.
Hutton also told Council that he and his wife chose to retire in Berea because of the quality of life here, including the opportunity to teach and learn.
Proclamation
Because Sept. 17 through Sept. 23 is National Constitution Week, Mayor Bruce Fraley proclaimed it would be celebrated in Berea, too. He gave a copy of the proclamation of the celebration to the local historian of the Berea chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, Laurel Ridges.
Street acceptance
Amanda Haney, director of Codes and Planning, apprised Council that her office had inspected and approved the lengthening by 80 feet of Baldwin Street by the City in order to accommodate two new homes built at numbers 363 and 366. Haney said the project only included asphalt, curbs, and gutters, but no additional sewer line.
Housing Authority re-appointment
Linda LeForce, who represents residents to the City's housing authority, was unanimously re-appointed by the Council at the Mayor's request.
Resolution
The City officially withdrew from the now defunct interlocal agreement for the three-jurisdiction 911 fee collection with the City of Richmond and the Madison County Fiscal Court by unanimously adopting by voice vote Resolution 17-2025.
City administrator report
Shawn Sandlin, the City's administrator, referenced a work session held prior to the meeting, where there had been a lively discussion about whether to strengthen current codes for tow yards so that they do not become a nuisance from appearing more like junk yards. Sandlin said there had been some good discussion, and that there would be more to come.
Sandlin also urged Councilmembers and others to join him at the Spoonbread Festival where he will be taking a shift to hand out spoonbread samples.
Mayor's comments
Fraley acknowledged that the last of the chemical weapons have been destroyed according to the plan presented to Council earlier this summer by Craig Williams, Chair of the Governor’s Commission on Chemical Weapons Demilitarization.
Fraley also announced that on Thursday, Sept. 18, the remains of US Air Force SSGT Henry G. Gish would be repatriated and buried in Berea Cemetery on Saturday, Sept. 20, following a memorial service at Lakes Funeral Home. Gish was killed in action in 1968, as previously reported.
Fraley also encouraged everyone to come to the Spoonbread Festival.
Council's comments
Katie Startzman thanked Sandlin and the City's department heads for their work, their leadership, and their thorough accounting of their activities in a report delivered to Council.
John Payne thanked the DAR for their ongoing educational efforts in the Madison County public schools, and urged folks to come to the Spoonbread Festival, for which he has illustrated an activities book for children who attend. The book will be available at multiple locations throughout the festival grounds.
Ronnie Terrill opined about whether there would be enough parking and about the traffic for the Spoonbread Festival, but Fraley said the City had it covered.
Cora Jane Wilson thanked the DAR, and reminded everyone of how good Spoonbread is, that it tastes even better with butter and honey, and that it freezes well, so everyone should be sure to get some.
Steve Caudill asked that Bereans have patience this weekend because it is the busiest weekend of the year and traffic will be terrible. He also offered that for the last show in this year's Pavillion Concert Series, his daughter will be performing, and he promised she is a good performer.
Teresa Scenters, Steve Davis, and Jerry Little all said they had no comment.
This story has been updated to correctly reference the Resolution 17-2025.