No word yet on Hull beautification funds

The money is available through the DOT, and Hull applied for the grant through the Keep Madison County Beautiful organization.

“Nothing is in the pocket right now,” mayor Paul Elkins said. “(But) we have not been denied the grant.”

The money would allow the city to plant flowers along the entire section of Hwy. 72 running through Hull.

“If you’ve ever wondered about how far it is, it’s 8,432 steps — point to point,” said Paul Elkins, who along with wife, Becky, and councilman Wayne Melton, measured the distance.

Elkins doesn’t know if the DOT’s current funding crisis hinders Hull’s chances of landing the grant. But if the money comes Hull’s way, it will make a difference, Elkins said.

“It will make Hwy. 72 actually look nice,” he said.

As far as any other grant opportunities for Hull projects, that’s a “dead” option right now, according to councilman Paul Cook.

“There’s absolutely nothing available as of yet,” said Cook, who is investigating grant money possibilities for the city. “Everything is dead, right now.”

The city will revisit grant opportunities for projects in three months.

City talks SPLOST

As far as SPLOST money for projects goes, Hull is projected to receive $88,300 in SPLOST over the next six years, but that amount isn’t guaranteed given the economic climate.

“That’s part of your problem in projecting a project that you want to do is that if you rely on this $88,000 figure, you may not get it because sales tax revenues are down,” Hull city attorney Pat Graham said.

That money is designated for maintenance and construction of city roads, streets and bridges.

Hull ups insurance for city hall

The Hull City Council now has full insurance coverage for its city hall building.

The council renewed its policy, opting to insure the building for $167,486. The city had been insured for $139,771.

Hull will now pay an annual premium of $2,367, but that amount is still within the city budget.

Hull seeks protection for hydrant

A fire hydrant in town needs a barrier around it, according to Hull mayor Paul Elkins.

“Because we could, in theory, lose the contents of one tank of water,” Elkins said.

Elkins said that Madison County Industrial and Development Authority Executive Director Marvin White is aware of the problem.

“I think we will get it,” Elkins said. “They’ve got a lot of proverbial irons in the fire right now.”

Elkins said the hydrant needs some sort of protective device “that would eliminate the possibility of us losing a quarter million gallons of precious water.”