Michael Bell becomes Church Hill alderman again

CHURCH HILL — The Church Hill Board of Mayor and Aldermen welcomed Michael Bell to their ranks during Tuesday's meeting. Bell, who has been an alderman and vice mayor before, is filling James Grigsby's seat. Grigsby died in November. Later, the board approved an amendment to the 2025-26 fiscal year budget upon first reading. The general fund will see $17,000 in revenue from insurance recoveries and $66,676 in expenditures for street repairs, HVAC repairs in the library, payroll and other items and projects. The amendment also concerns the debt service fund. "Some of this money will be brought back into the general fund, once we get checks from insurance companies," Mayor Dennis Deal said, citing issues with the sewer plant and senior center. The amendment will be finalized at the board's Feb. 17 meeting. Other updates The board updated fire codes to the 2024 international standard, finalizing an ordinance introduced at their December meeting. Fire Chief Will Mullins said, at that meeting, the town hadn't updated its fire code since 2006, despite the international code updating every three years with "minute changes." "The further we fall behind, somebody can be doing something that is [against] international code standards, and we're just not following up on it," Mullins had said. The code sets minimum safety standards regarding building design, sprinklers, storing hazardous materials and more. International updates have reflected new technology like solar power, Mullins said. The updated code can be viewed at the city recorder's office and the fire department. The board declared equipment from the fire department surplus, to be thrown away or donated to another city's department if wanted. They also promoted two part-time employees to full-time and hired a new police officer.