City Seeks Lower Gas Prices; Ends Mountain View Deal
Monday evening, the City Council took action to save money on the cost of natural gas and agreed to take final action on cancelling the lease for Mountain View.
In a brief meeting, the council unanimously voted to authorize Mayor Charlie Fagan to enter into an agreement with Tennergy corporation, a Tennessee-based firm. The purpose of the agreement would be for the company to buy gas at the lowest possible rates and distribute it to its customers. The company originally limited its activities to Tennessee municipal and county governments, but has now expanded into Georgia and Alabama.
In explaining the arrangement, utilities general manager Lee Young told the council Tennergy operated much like the Alabama Municipal Electric Authority. Tennergy can even float a bond issue to buy gas in large quantities to be distributed to member gas systems. The larger quantities can result in lower prices. Young estimated the company might save the city as much as $30,000 the first year.
If Fagan reviews and signs the agreement in the coming week, Young said Piedmont's gas system may receive some of the less expensive fuel as early as February.
Fagan told the council he had met with Mountain View officials on the company's closing its operation in the old Southside Elementary School building. Fagan said the spokesmen mentioned loss of revenue and other factors caused by the council's decision to terminate the lease. He added, however, that for the payment of $12,582 in improvement reimbursements, the company would declare the matter closed.
City Clerk Bill Fann told the group that he had not inspected the building in several months and recommended the panel authorize the mayor to approve the payment after a detailed inspection. Councilman Doug Goss offered the motion, and it met with unanimous approval. It was also mentioned that the payment would release the city from any other claims.
Fagan closed the matter by saying that neither the city nor Mountain View was financially injured by closing the facility. "In the long run, the only ones we've hurt is the children. I feel they have suffered an injustice."
Fagan warned that the building could not be released to another tenant unless a sprinkler system was installed at a cost of from $150,000-$200,000.
The council members again discussed the purchase of medical equipment, a dentist's office and a doctor's office. The matter arose at the last council meeting, but no decision has been reached. The group agree to table the issue until the first council meeting of next year at which time a special work session will be devoted to the properties.
The last meeting of 2005 ended in the mayor's appeal for unity among the council and requested that they again join in working for the city.

Governmental And Other Offices Set Closing Schedules
While weekend holidays may be great for party-goers and travelers, the next two weekends' business, medical and government schedules will be widely varied.
It should be noted that many large churches in larger cities are dispensing with Sunday's services, but a brief survey of several local churches shows that local churches will conduct services on a regular schedule.
The city business offices will be closed Friday, and will not reopen until Tuesday. This includes all utility offices. City workers said any utility emergencies should be reported to police, 447-9091.
The U.S. Post Office will remain open for its regular hours on Saturday, Christmas Eve, but will be closed Sunday and Monday.
Both local banks will close at noon Saturday and reopen at 9 a.m. Tuesday.
Dr. Russell Ulrich's office will be closed Monday.
Dr. Dorothy Nelder's office will close at noon, Thursday, and will not reopen until Tuesday.
Drs. Rey and Joy Gavino open their offices on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and there will be no change in their schedule.
Dr. Ben Ingram's dental practice will be closed Thursday through Monday and will reopen on Tuesday.
Watson Drug Store will be closed Saturday and Monday, while CVS Pharmacy will remain open until 9 p.m. Christmas Eve and will reopen Monday. Alaco Discount Pharmacy will remain open Christmas, but will close Christmas.
Many clubs, organizations and groups have also modified their meeting schedules due to the holidays. Organization officers should be contacted for their meeting schedules.

Strictly Personal
A Little Shop Talk And Best Wishes For Christmas...
I can't believe it's already time for Santa to come sliding down the chimney, but Christmas is upon us. I must congratulate most local churches for planning services Sunday. After all, Christians are celebrating Jesus' birth. It's a time for worship and remembering that first Christmas. Why would you close a church on such an important occasion?
I can't believe we are again being told that it is not politically correct to say, "Merry Christmas." According to the last figures I read, Christians outnumber any other religion in this country. I don't mind other religions asking their people to celebrate their holidays. Heck, I encourage it. The last time I read the Constitution, every U.S. citizen is guarantee religious freedom. For me not to be allowed to wish you a merry Christmas is therefore a violation of my constitutional rights. Therefore, look at the top of this page for the message from our office to your home or business. If there are some that don't like it, let me know and I'll wish them a happy whatever.
There is a little shop talk I would like to share with you on this special week. It was my plan to retire on Dec. 31. I had a part-time job lined up, and my plan was for my wife and I to do a little traveling. On Oct. 21, all that changed. I don't care than much about traveling by myself, nor did I look forward to sitting at home with little or nothing to do.
I had talked with some folks about going to work at a different job, and they were most cooperative. The money, however, was not really what I needed.
I had mentioned that I might be interested in staying at this paper for a while, but that met with no response...until last week. Much to my surprise, Robert Jackson came to me with a proposition for me to stay and to keep the current staff. We are still in the process of working out the details, but at this writing, I will still be grinding out one of these columns each week, plus my other duties.
Betty Lawler will be handling classifieds and subscriptions and Susan Fann will continue writing features and stories to grace the page of this 98-year-old (soon to be 99) publication.
To me, this is great news. I will still be doing what I have done for the past 40 years among those who have become very dear to me.
It was a treasured Christmas gift.
Christmas is a season of giving and receiving, and I want to take his opportunity to give some thanks for the comfort, love and friendship I have received during the past two months.
First, my kids have been wonderful. Missie, Scott and Greg have done everything in their power to help me make it through a really difficult period. They did this, even though they were hurting as much as I, and I will do everything I can to make it up to them. They are terrific.
At the office, Betty and Susan gave me the support and compassion I desperately needed to make it through the most difficult time I have experienced. They were there to keep the paper going when I wasn't able, and they have both been very understanding and supportive when I have fallen down on my job. They were always there to take up the slack and gently push me in the right direction. I love both of you.
There have been literally hundreds of people who have sent cards, made phone calls, written letters and given contributions to mark their compassion for our family and their love of Carol. We are still trying to get a handle on the names and addresses of all of you, and you will received a thank-you card. I realize a card isn't enough, but I hope you will accept it in the spirit of love and gratitude in which it is sent.
Finally, there are five people I want to mention, though I will not mention their names. Four of them have never suffered a severe loss, but they seemed to know exactly when to call, what to say and the action to take when I seemed the lowest. Two live in the Piedmont area and the other couple lives in Shelby County. The fifth person has suffered a loss. Though the circumstances were different, this person extended a hand to me and brightened a very dark corner of my life. I owe a special debt of gratitude to each of these folks, and I hope someday I will be able to repay them for their kindness.
Again, thank each of you, God bless you and have a very merry Christmas.