Staff Writer

rseaborn@pickenssentinel.com

LIBERTY - The city is making improvements fiscally, Certified Public Accountant Drake Curry told council Monday evening.

"I commend your efforts," he said. "Fundamentally, you are doing a good job for a town this size."

A review of the 2007 financial records showed improvements in the city's income and spending, he said.

"The town is much more fiscally responsible this year over last year," he said. "You are being smart in the way you're spending money."

Although the report shows deficits in some areas, it also shows larger gains in other places, he said.

"All in all, Liberty had a good year," Curry said. "This is something to feel good about."

In other action, council approved two applications of property rezoning while denying another.

In separate votes, properties at 331 and 327 West Front Street both received council's approval to be re-zoned from medium density residential to office commercial.

Due to family connections to the property, Mayor Brain Deese abstained from the vote.

Councilman Walt McJunkin said that the owners of that property planned on operating a catering service there, but the way the property was currently zoned, any signs advertising that business would have to placed on the house and not in the yard.

"It's a catering business," McJunkin said. "The owners want people to be able to see the sign and they believe it couldn't be seen as well if it was only on the house."

An application for the re-zoning of property at 109 South Peachtree Street from medium density residential to office commercial fell short of passage in a 2-3 vote of council.

Deese again abstained from the vote, alone with Councilman Josh Harrison, who said that parcel butted against his own property.

Council also approved the purchase of two new vehicles for the police department.

Police Chief Leland "Corky" Miller said that many of the department's vehicles were older and had high mileage, and the purchase of the new vehicles would allow him to begin rotating off those vehicles rather than responding to a situation where several of the cars needed immediate replacement.

In other business, council approved the transfer of $10,000 of the city's hospitality tax funds to an account established for the support of Liberty Idol, an annual event that brings crowds to the downtown area each Friday evening during the summer.

"This is a major event for Liberty, and the city should become a major sponsor of the event," Deese said. "And $10,000 is not that much when you consider how much in benefits is reaped by the city during Liberty Idol.

"Businesses benefit from it because we have over 4,000 people coming into our downtown," he said.

Council also approved on first reading a Flood Damage Prevention Ordinance, which once passed, will meet the guidelines created under the 1962 National Flood Insurance Act, making it easier for residents suffering from damage due to floods to apply for national financial assistance.