The Work Session held prior to Tuesday’s regular meeting of the Centre City Council got heated when the topic of an Annexation Petition for the Country Club Area was brought up.

There were several residents in attendance at the meeting including Scott Farrar who is an adjacent property owner as well as Steve Baker with the Country Club who have signed that petition to have the Country Club annexed into the city limits.

One of the biggest assets for the Country Club seems to be alcohol sales which the club would be allowed to do if they were brought into the city.

Steve Baker (pictured left) who serves as the Club Manager explains

Councilman Derrick Wheeler says that doing this is certainly not going to be a savior, but will be a good start in terms of bringing in additional residents and revenue to the city.

Councilman Phillip Roberts said that he felt like this decision would in fact help our Country Club –

Councilman Glen Chandler said that he would vote “no” on the issue, Mayor Pro Tem Bess Yarbrough, who in addition to Councilman Chandler is a Charter Member of the Country Club said that she was not against the issue but she wanted some additional information surrounding the situation.

Both Councilman Frankie Kelly and Harry Moon did not comment on how they felt about the issue.

Following some lengthy and at times heated discussion which carried over into the council meeting, it was decided after Councilman Marc Johnson made a motion to go forward with the annexation and Councilman derrick Wheeler made a second and then rescinded it, that the council would turn the matter over to City Attorney Al Shumaker for review and once they heard back from him would at that time further discuss and vote on the issue.

In other business during the regular meeting, the Council accepted a motion to pay the monthly bills, approved a resolution increasing garbage rates by $2.00, approved an Ordinance to correct a typing error to the Use Tax Ordinance No. 01-216 and approved the renewal of a contract with RDS-Lodging.