The Bruce board of aldermen heard a request Tuesday night to build a new trailer park in South Bruce.
Ed Spearman asked if he could put a trailer park on property he owns at the corner of South McSweyne and Jimmy Beckley Road.
Mayor Rudy Pope said that area isn’t zoned for that, only one single-family dwelling.
Alderwoman Ellen Shaw told Spearman he would have to go before the zoning committee and apply for a variance.
“It’s a big ordeal to change that, but that’s where you have to go,” Shaw said.
“People need a place to stay and everybody can’t afford to build a new house,” he said. “But they still want something nice. We need more, better housing.”
Mayor Pope told Spearman he would schedule him a meeting with the zoning committee to make his request.
Other actions by the board:
•Authorized Mayor Rudy Pope to work with D.J. Lyons to move a dilapidated trailer he has on Fred Murphree’s property.
•Approved $500 in cash for police to use for drug buys.
•Declared International Ditcher surplus property to donate to county.
•Approved series of resolutions for the sewerage project connecting Bruce Community Living Center to the town’s service.
•Authorized attorney Jim Beckett to confirm title on town’s newly acquired landfill property for grant purposes.
•Mayor Pope said lighting has been updated and a lot of new painting done at Jesse Yancy Memorial Library in preparation for its 40th anniversary in April. Plumbing also needs to be replaced in men’s restroom, Pope said. Board agreed to contribute to the cost.
•Mayor Pope said he met with a representative from the Fire Rating Bureau and after numerous tests all over town, they believe the town will be able to improve its rating to a seven, which will lower home insurance rates for Bruce residents.
•Mayor Pope said he is looking into requested improvements at the tennis courts in Bruce Park including new lighting and resurfacing. Alderman Steve Nelson requested planning begin on a better soccer field in the park.
•Mayor Pope said they have received approval for a spayed and neutering program to be incuded with the Dog Lovers’ League.
•Pope said he also checked into designating street(s) in South Bruce in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. at the requests of aldermen Johnny and John Earl Armstrong. No official decision has been made.