By RUBY KEARCE

Paxton City Council held their monthly meeting Tuesday, Oct 18, at City Hall. Leigh Moore, representative for Scenic Walton, attended the meeting to give a presentation to the council. Moore explained that Scenic Walton is known as an organization that focuses on the beautification of communities and is currently attempting to expand the their efforts. 

Scenic Walton is a non-profit 501c3 organization that has evolved since the mid 90’s and focuses on landscaping in public spaces, minimizing visual impact of utilities and cellular facilities, and works to minimize litter throughout Walton County. In 2019 the Scenic Walton board voted to start expanding their efforts throughout the county and plans to coordinate with Freeport and Defuniak as well. 

Moore reached out to Paxton City Council to offer partnership for future beautification projects in Paxton. Scenic Walton’s program not only beautifies an area but also keeps pedestrians safe. They evaluate areas in the county and determine where a project needs to be done, like bike trails and landscaping, then hire a designer to design the project, donate the design to the city and assist in securing a grant or other forms of funding.

Scenic Walton’s next project will be on Hwy. 331 from the Alabama State line to the southern boundary of Paxton. The design plans are at a point where the council can view and start giving opinions. Scenic Walton is encouraging the council to participate in the design process. 

Latilda Hughes-Neel, approached the board in regards to the first reading of the Property Rights Element. This element uses similar language as Property Rights Elements established in other cities in the state. A motion was made to allow Hughes-Neel to continue with the first reading of the element, stating property rights will be considered in regards to decisions made in the city. Hughes-Neel also announced that the EAR reports have already been turned in and accepted.

Council Member Bill McRae approached the other council members about clearing the wooded area in the southeast corner of the cemetery in order to expand the number of cemetery lots available. McRae also suggested raising the rates for cemetery lots. A motion was passed to allow City Clerk Judy Williams to contact the county about the possibility of clearing the land and expanding the number of lots. 

A local whose water bill waiver had been tabled in order to ensure the potential leak was appropriately fixed (the council only allots one waiver per citizen ever.) approached the council and announced no leak was located and his bill has gone back down to the normal monthly cost. The council approved the one-time water waiver. Then a Tallahassee woman whose mother lived in the area and passed away in May, asked the council for a water waiver for the mother’s property. The water bill was approximately $360, with no one in the home to use the water. The water had been shut off at the meter, and she plans to fix any problems with the property prior to selling. The Council approved her one time water waiver. One final local approached the board with a water bill of approximately $730, who experienced a mainline break. The council agreed on a one time water waiver. 

In other news Robin Phillips, Representative for Phillips and Associates, approached the board about the building for the Senior Citizen Center. A meeting needs to be held between council members and the architects creating the plans for the facility. The meeting was set for Oct 27. 

Also, a resolution was read by City Clerk Judy Wiliams for a 15 percent increase in water and wastewater services as a way to replenish reserve account funds, which is required for the current grant/loan process. A motion was passed to adopt the increase.