In Mill Shoals, the community center was another hot topic at last month’s meeting in reference to whether it should be rented out to anyone.
During Tuesday’s meeting, Village Clerk Heath Tullis informed the Board that if no one was denied access to the Community Center, the USDA Rural Development, who approved a Grant in 2017, would not have an issue. Clerk Tullis further elaborated that after October 17th of 2024, the Village would have served the mandated period required by USDA for the Grant.
President Gray stated that in 5 and a half years, not one person had a problem or concern with the Community Center until now. Trustee Young asked if operators of Steph’s Coffee Shop out of the Community Center, had insurance as he was concerned with liability of the amount of people at the semi-annual vendor fair. President Gray stated that the Village required them to have liability insurance from the onset. Trustee West felt that a committee could be formed to further discuss the Community Center, but he also weighed whether the Village would lose money by making changes. Trustee York thought there needed to be a sign that says Mill Shoals Community Center and that the Village should rent the building out to anyone.
Some citizens in attendance spoke up and thought if it wasn’t for the owners of Steph’s Coffee Shop, Mill Shoals wouldn’t have a functioning community center at all, as the town tried to rent it out in the past and no one showed interest.
Treasurer James Murphy stated he would try to gather info on how other towns handle their Community Centers and report back to the Board. President Gray allowed that he would order a sign and put the Villages number underneath it to see if any other entities were interested in the building.