By John Howell
Batesville aldermen will consider during today’s meeting a request from contractor Tommy Caine for a portion of city-owned property that includes Gowdy Street, a short, one-way street parallel to the Eureka Building on the Public Square.

Assistant City Attorney Colmon Mitchell is expected to discuss the legal issues involved with Caine’s request. If Caine can gain the additional property from the city, he plans to build three new homes to replace two substandard structures now standing on the street.

The mayor and aldermen will also be asked to approve two large payment requests for city projects, according to the itinerary released for today’s meeting.

City Clerk Susan Berryhill will present a pay request from Bickerstaff Brothers for $64,911.60 for a phase of completed construction on the Hunter’s Trace Sanitary Sewer project. Berryhill will also ask aldermen to approve payment of $102,394.37 to Pavecon for work on the Downtown Square Improvements project.

City officials are also expected to discuss the recent Internal Revenue Service standard business mileage rate reduction from 57.5 cents per mile to 54 cents per mile.

Fire Chief Tim Taylor is excepted to seek approval for the purchase of 11 portable radios through the Mississippi State Contract with Motorola for $18,563. Proceeds from an $18,000 MS Department of Homeland Security grant will fund the purchase.

The fire chief is also expected to request purchase of 1,500 feet of five-inch supply line fire hose. Quotes from three suppliers range from $7,962 to $8,248.68. Taylor is seeking to replace hose that has failed pressure testing and that has “reached and exceeded its life expectancy,” his request states.

Chief Taylor will also request permission to advertise openings for firefighters to fill open positions on the Batesville Fire Department.

A hearing at 3 p.m. today will allow opportunity for public comment on a sign variance requested by Batesville Rehab. Batesville Rehab plans to place a digital message board sign at its new building on Lakewood Drive.

Today’s meeting of Batesville’s board of mayor and aldermen is the first of 2016. The city’s regular meeting dates and times are 2 p.m. each First and Third Tuesday of the month. Recessed and special called meetings are scheduled as needed. All meetings are open to the public.