GAS — A move is afoot to establish a community grocery store in Gas. THE SUCCESS of a $65,000 Community Development Block Grant for a community storm shelter will be known after the first of the year, Catron said.
Mayor Darrel Catron noted during Tuesday evening’s Gas Council meeting a petition was being circulated to gauge interest in a venture that would have locals purchase shares in a store. At year’s end profits would be distributed to those who invested.
“They want a place to shop other than Walmart,” Catron said. “I don’t know what will come of it, but I’d love to see a grocery here.”
He suggested the governing body look at becoming involved by providing land or even a building.
“We could recoup what we invested through sales tax collections,” he said.
Gas has a local 1-cent sales tax that supports its budget. Council members took no action.
The shelter would be centrally located, hold 60 people, including those in wheelchairs and with other handicaps. Gas has seven smaller shelters designed for 12 people each, but in the event of a tornado, “I’m sure you could get in more than that,” Catron said.
Steve Garver was given until Dec. 3 to clean up around a property he owns at 1001 E. Pine St.
A letter was sent in October giving Garver 10 days, said City Clerk Rhonda Hill, “but nothing much has happened.”
Councilmen want a trench where stagnant water stands to be filled and scrap metal and debris moved from the yard. If the Dec. 3 deadline isn’t met, the city’s crew will deal with the nuisance and give Garver the bill.
A building owned by the city on South Main Street will be sold by sealed bid at the council’s Dec. 11 meeting. It is a modular unit once used for overflow students in a school district. Its attraction for a bidder are several large steel beams on which it sits.
Councilmen told Hill to check the cost of a machine to accept credit and debit card payments for utility bills. Citizens have asked about using the cards.
Gas may get market
