Gunter, Moore back on city utilities board

By Staff
Clif Knight, Hartselle Enquirer
The Hartselle City Council reappointed F. Michael "Mike" Gunter and Jimmy Moore to six-year terms on the Hartselle Utilities Board at a regular meeting Tuesday night.
Gunter's appointment came on a unanimous voice vote. Moore's required a roll call vote, and was settled only after Council President K. T. "Kenny" Thompson reversed an abstention in favor of Moore to make the count 3-1. Council member Bill Smelser did not attend the meeting.
The move was made after four candidates for the two positions were interviewed at a work session on Monday night. The candidates included Frank Jones, a former city councilman and HU board member and Will Lipsey, a homebuilder and retired auditor with the U.S. Army. A fifth candidate, Mack Wilson, withdrew his application earlier in the day, according to Mayor Dwight Tankersley.
Gunter is an ordained minister who has served as chairman of the utilities board for the past year. He also served as vice chairman. Moore, a 34-year employee of BellSouth and AT&T, is a former vice chairman and secretary.
Both appointees agreed that expanding sewer to families not currently being served is a major issue facing the HU Board and management. They also touted improved relations with city officials as a major accomplishment during their terms.
HU board members are paid $150 per month.
The governing body also agreed to commit $25,000 toward a Community Development Block Grant, which is being sought to expand the Senior Center at Sparkman Civic Center.
This money will bring the local match to $50,000, of which $25,000 was previously committed by the Morgan County Commission.
The city applied for a $250,000 grant to fund the project last year but its application was denied. Grant consultant Terry Acuff said the application raised two concerns: The city's lack of a monetary commitment and the designation of the center for use by senior citizens only.
"Your reapplication addresses those concerns," he said, "and I feel it has a good chance of being approved. It will be filed prior to August 31 and the city should know whether or not it has been approved sometime in November."
In other business, the council: