Sunday beer sales will soon be legal in Magee. The tentative date set by the city for stores to begin selling is Sunday, August 27.
In their last meeting the Magee Board of Aldermen also set a new policy regarding leaves and lawn debris. These are no longer to be bagged and placed on the curb for the city to pick up. Nelvis Rankin, head of the city’s Public Works Dept., told the board that the Department of Environmental Quality has said that the city could no longer bury bagged leaves and other such lawn waste at the debris pit because the plastic bags do not break down as quickly as the organic matter. If the city does not comply, the pit would be shut down.
The city has asked that residents pile those types of materials curbside unbagged, for collection.
Mayor Dale Berry reported that he had worked a deal on the removal of the canopy on the old gas station in front of the Magee shopping center on Highway 49. The plan includes having the structure removed for the salvage value of the material. Berry also reported that two or three restaurants have expressed an interest in locating in Magee
The board discussed the use of hangars at the Magee airport. The 12 hangars each lease for $95 per month. They were recently inspected by Ashley Steele and fire marshal Charlie Valadie. Occupants of five of the 12 were found to be non-compliant with the terms of their leases. In addition to aircraft being required to be serviceable and inspected annually by the FAA, certain lease standards are required. Six of the aircraft in question had not been moved from the hangars in three years.
Fire and safety violations were also noted as well as concern as to whether hangars were actually being used for aircraft. Berry also said that the rent was too low and based on the amount of space and the fact that there is a waiting list for hangars, the rent could easily be raised.
Valadie cited an issue with the Walmart location in Magee, where a barricade prevents large vehicles from entering the main entry to the store off Hwy. 49. Valadie said this creates a traffic problem when trucks do try to enter and can’t pass under the barricade. They then have to back out of the entry, causing traffic to stop on Highway 49.
He said this could also create issues for emergency vehicles that may need to gain access to Walmart. He said he had “gotten nowhere” in trying to discuss removing the barrier but was in hopes of re-establishing dialogue with Walmart management. He said trucks could enter on Highway 28 but it was over a mile and could delay emergency responses.
The board had scheduled their first budget workshop for last week and were hoping to conclude this week.
The board went into executive session to discuss real estate for economic development. According to Berry, no official action had been taken in regard to the issue.
