The city of Centre recorded more than $800,000 in building activity for the final quarter of 2005.

City Building Inspector Brian McKinney gave his quarterly report during a recent council meeting. For the past three months, September through November, the city issued three commercial building permits for a total of $631,600, five residential permits for a total of $244,585 and two sign permits for a total of $46.50. Total activity for the fourth quarter of 2005 was $876,231.50.

Centre Fire Chief Larry Steele Sr. said firefighters did seven drills, worked nine structure fires and 13 miscellaneous fires for 328 man-hours during the final quarter of 2005. “Everything seems to be running pretty smooth,” said Steele.

While on the subject of the fire department, Mayor Phil Powell recommended hiring Tim Ferguson as a firefighter, which now brings the Centre Fire Deparment to a full slate of firefighters with 25 members.



Centre Police Chief Val Courtney reported 96 incident offense reports for the third quarter of 2005, from which 12 cases were made. The Centre Police Department made 32 arrests during this period and worked 25 accidents. “That seems a little higher than it was last year at this time,” said Courtney. “I think it is possibly because the flow of traffic is more than it has been.”

The Centre Police Department issued 31 uniform traffic citations and 13 warning citations for the final quarter of 2005.

As for year to date totals, Courtney said, Centre police responded to 590 incident offense reports, made 226 arrests, worked 121 accidents, worked 444 uniform traffic citations and 500 warning citations.



Courtney said the Centre Police Department hopes to hire at least four additional officers for the force. Interviews are scheduled for Thursday, Dec. 1.

Courtney urged residents to be on the lookout for counterfeit money as the holiday season progresses. “This is a bad time of year,” Courtney said. “You have counterfeit money, counterfeit checks, shoplifting, burglary and everything. They seem to pick up in November, December and taper off in February. We need to stay on our toes. If we have the eyes and ears of everybody helping us, that makes a big difference.”

Street and Sanitation Supervisor Bobbie Paul reported that activities are proceeding smoothly in his department.

“We’ve got all of our bushhogging completed,” said Paul. “We have a lot of ditching going on this time of year, tiles going in. We’re ready to hang Christmas decorations next week.”

Councilwoman Rita Stubbs extended her appreciation to Paul for the balloons and other decorations placed in the downtown area to honor the Cherokee County High School Warrior Football Team for advancing to the state playoffs.

Speaking for City Parks and Recreation Director Charles Glazner, who was out of town, Mayor Phil Powell proposed grassing of the new softball complex for $1,728. The council approved the project.

Councilman Harry Moon noted that the recreation committee will meet in a work session Wednesday, Nov. 30, at 4:30 p.m