Carlton winning the battle with the bats

A pest control company has placed a bat valve in the city complex that allows the bats to leave, but blocks them from coming back in. Once the bats are all gone, the company will come back and finish cleaning and repairing the damage.

It is further securing the building by installing bars on two windows. The bars and necessary hardware and paint will cost approximately $425.

City clerk Karen Hedgelon expressed a series of budget concerns April 6 resulting from information she received at a recent meeting. The dramatic reduction in property values, the aging of the homes in the town and the number of repossessions all point to lower tax revenues next year. She suggested that the council might want to consider alternatives to raising the milage rate by reducing some city services, especially the garbage pickup.

Currently, the city pays $10 per home for the service from tax revenues. It can either increase the tax, or bill residents directly for the service. The change would start in the 2012 budget. If the city decides to bill residents, the bill would be added to the water bill.

In other actions, the council approved the city’s first beer and wine license, delivered titles to three fire trucks to the volunteer fire department and approved the installation of a handicap parking sign. The sign, and the new door handle already installed, brings the city hall into full compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. The council approved funds to allow the city clerk to attend an election seminar in Savannah needed to qualify her as the city’s chief election official.