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Joe P. Asher

Staff Writer

The city of Benham is making plans to accomplish some needed improvements and repairs in the near future.

During a meeting on Thursday, the council began prioritizing which projects will be tackled first with the special projects coal severance funds recently received by the city.

Mayor John Dodd reminded the council about some of the projects on the table.

“The roof at the water plant will be one project,” said Dodd. “We’ll have to wait and see what the estimate on that is.”

Dodd said there are also issues with sewer lines on Maggard Street as well as some roofing issues for the theater.

The council discussed what to do about the city’s maintenance truck, which is in need of repair.

“We need to take a look at getting a better maintenance truck,” said Dodd. “This one has done well. We could probably have it refurbished and have some things done to it. The motor’s in good shape. The transmission’s in good shape. It needs a windshield and some other things. It’s got good tires on it.”

Council member George Massey noted it would be “a whole lot cheaper” to repair the old truck rather than by a new one.

“Let’s go that route then,” responded Dodd. “We’ll get it tuned up and get a new windshield. We put a new ignition switch in it when we got it, so it may need another one.”

The council agreed to repair the current truck.

The council was updated on the status of Benham’s garbage truck, which had to be repaired after being involved in a wreck.

“We got our garbage truck back. It’s in real good shape,” said Dodd. “There’s been about $10,000 worth of repairs on it. The insurance company offered us $4,700 just to total it and forget it. They sent us a check and I had it sent back. They took it at the body shop and did close to $10,000 worth of repairs on it. They dealt with the insurance company themselves. Because when we got the estimates $4,700 was no where near what we needed to fix that truck.”

Dodd noted it was not the city’s insurance company that had to pay for the repairs.

In other council activity, Massey asked about the status of renaming the Coal Miner’s Memorial Theater the Coal Miner’s Memorial/Betty Howard Theater.

“It’s already done. We did that when we had our meeting, all we have to do is get a sign made,” said Dodd. “The historical society gave us their okay. All we have to do is get the sign.”

Massey noted they should have the dedication ceremony at a time and date when Howard can attend.

“Somebody contact her and see when she can come out,” said Dodd. “Tell her to pick a date when she wants to do it.”

Dodd noted the ceremony will probably be held inside the theater.

Reach Joe P. Asher at 606-573-4510 or jasher@heartlandpublications.com