By Shannon McFarlin News Director
Paris, Tenn.–At Thursday night’s meeting of the Paris City Commission, a local business owner called for the city of Paris to change its charter to allow property owners to vote in city elections.
Mike Weatherford noted that he has owned and operated Mike’s Muffler in the downtown area for over 35 years and owns other property in the city of Paris. “I am here representing myself plus many others” who are promoting the concept of allowing property rights voting in Paris.
Property rights voting, Weatherford said, “is people who own property in the city limits of Paris but live in the county or other places the right to vote in city elections. As you are aware, the mass majority of the business in the city of Paris whom collect the lion’s share of the tax base for Paris through sales taxes do not live in the city of Paris, and as of now cannot vote in city elections.”
During the public comment section of the meeting, Weatherford asked for the city commission to explore this idea with its legal counsel “and right this wrong.” He said there are many cities in Tennessee, both larger and smaller, that have property rights voting.
Mayor Kathy Ray said, “We’ll take everything into consideration”.
In other business, the commission voted to accept a 25-acre donation for the future Industrial Park on condition there is a clean title and favorable environmental analysis of the property. Missy Hamilton is wanting to donate the property, located on Industrial Park Road adjacent to the site of the future Industrial Park. She wants to donate the property to the Paris-Henry County Industrial Committee.
Because she wants to count this donation as charitable, she needs to donate it to an eligible recipient. And since the Industrial Committee is not a 501C3 entity, it is more approperiate for her to donate the property to the city of Paris and allow it to convey the property to the Industrial Committee, according to City Manager Kim Foster.
City Attorney James Smith said the two contingencies may be difficult to accomplish for this particular property. “We may not be able to make this work, but we’ll do our best,” he said, noting that Hamilton and her legal counsel are aware of that.
–Foster reported that the Municipal Facilities Project has hit a snag. After study, the city has planned to demolish the present City Hall and build a larger facility that is more accomodating to modern needs. The State Historic Preservation Office has determined that the existing City Hall building is historically significant because it is over 50 years old and should be preserved. A meeting between the state and city will be called to discuss the situation.
–Finance Director Tammie Hopper reported the city experienced an 11.22 percent decrease in sales tax revenue over this time last year but only a slight decrease in comparison to 2022 sales.
October was the first full month collecting hotel/motel occupancy tax for a total received of $17,254.28.
The city issued 11 business licenses in October.
–The commission approved a request by Kris Dumas of 1108 Depot St. to acquire an undeveloped alley on Depot St.
Photo: Mike Weatherford addresses the city commission. (Shannon McFarlin photo).