SPRUCE PINE – The Spruce Pine Town Council during its regular meeting on Monday, April 12 received reports from Luther Stroup, Sheila Blalock and Jimmy Hinshaw.
During the meeting, the council approved decisions to draft a letter of support for a federal transportation grant and approved requests from Hinshaw regarding a Mini Toe Jam Music Festival in May.
Stroup spoke to the board about the annual Fourth of July parade on behalf of the Spruce Pine Kiwanis Club. He said he hoped to solidify what date the annual fireworks display would be held.
Town Manager Darlene Butler said she is working on setting up the fireworks show but is having trouble because the previous fireworks vendor the town used has gone out of business.
Aaron Young, she said, may be available to shoot fireworks on Monday, July 5 and the town may have an option available for Saturday, July 3.
Stroup reiterated that the Kiwanis Club wants the Fourth of July Parade to be a big celebration after the past year of living in the pandemic, adding that the parade is expected to be filled with trucks from local businesses in the area.
The council said they will keep Stroup updated on the fireworks display once more information is obtained.
Blalock, who is the Mitchell County Transportation Authority Director, requested a letter of support for a new, deviated fixed county transportation route through Spruce Pine.
The new route would be completely funded by a federal grant, she added.
The route would include 18 months of free rides through town and would run from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. five days per week.
Spruce Pine Mayor Darla Harding and Council Member Jackie Rensink were especially excited by the idea and agreed to help however they can.
Butler agreed to draft a letter of support and Council Member Rocky Buchanan requested that if the grant is awarded, that Blalock returns to a future meeting three months after the proposed route begins to offer an update on its success.
Hinshaw approached the council to ask for permission to hold a Mini Toe Jam Music Festival on Saturday, May 29. He requested permission to close the street from Oak Avenue to Link Street from 5 p.m. to midnight and use the parking lot of the old Carolina Theater from midnight on Friday, May 28 until midnight on Saturday, May 29.
Hinshaw, who has organized local festivals in the past few years including the SPACE Festival and the first Toe Jam Music Festival, also asked that patrons be allowed to have alcohol in plastic cups outside.
He added that an open carry permit would simply help local businesses (most notably Bierdock, Hef’s and Niki’s Italian Bistro) and no additional alcohol vendors would be introduced.
The festival will utilize off-duty police officers as security.
Rensink moved to approve Hinshaw’s requests and Council Member Larry McKinney followed with a second. All council members present voted in favor.
Before finishing his report, Hinshaw said he is interested in helping the town revitalize Riverside and Brad Ragan Park through fundraising and donations. Butler asked him to stay in communication with the town on the efforts and suggested discussing the topic again at future meetings.