The Sand Rock Town Council met Feb. 9 for its regular monthly meeting.  There were a variety of items on the agenda, from baseball to the budget and everything in between.

For the first item of business, the mayor recognized Sand Rock resident Jason Hester, who is in charge of coordinating tee-ball and youth baseball.  After a brief discussion, the council approved a request by Hester for facilities keys to be issued for the coaches. Hester also asked permission to use league funds to make repairs to the baseball field fence, which the council approved.  

Next, Sand Rock Fire Chief Steve Oliver and firefighter Keith Morgan came before the council to present updates.  Morgan noted that the crew had recently completed three five-hour training sessions and that more training was in the works. Oliver further noted that on Feb. 21, Sand Rock will host a multi-department training, with several local departments participating, including those from Leesburg, Collinsville, Tuckers Chapel, and Dogtown. Councilman Ricky Mackey congratulated the pair, saying “It’s great that you’re trying to get everyone going in the same direction and all in the same ballpark.”

Oliver and Morgan discussed a recent septic system overflow at the fire hall. Morgan noted that a local septic pumping service discovered that roots from one or more willow trees were causing problems with the system.  The trees need to be removed to keep the problem from recurring, but they are on an adjoining property.  The council decided to look into the matter further.

Oliver and Morgan also brought up a concern regarding the fire department’s lease on its facilities.  Several firefighters have wondered why the lease is only for a period of 20 years with two five-year renewal options.  Although the building is leased from the town for only $1 per year, the firefighters asked whether a longer lease should be put into place. The council decided to consult the town lawyer about the matter.

The Council then moved to discussion of the budget. Town Clerk Melanie Garrett gave a financial update, noting an operating budget of $121,981.85. “We’re currently ahead of budget by about $6000, but we’ll probably catch up in the near future,” said Garrett.  The council approved the budget unanimously.

Councilman Ricky Mackey gave an update on roads, noting the need for road repairs on county road 48.  Diverted water seems to be causing parts of the road to wash away. Mackey will look into removing the debris causing the water diversion. Mackey also reported that a recent workday for the baseball field was a success.

In other business, the council approved a request for $300 from the girls’ softball team for purchase of a sound system and voted to purchase an ad for the Spirit of Cherokee’s Mr. and Miss Snowflake pageant. The council also discussed looking for an individual to represent Sand Rock on the Cherokee County Industrial Development Board Authority and voted to declare February as Marriage Month for the town of Sand Rock.