Lee Erwin Reporting
lerwin@clarksvillenow.com
CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – At their meeting Thursday, July 1 the Clarksville City Council took up the issues of police escorts for funeral processions, the location of homeless shelters, beekeeping and honors for a Wounded Warrior.
City Councilman David Allen proposed an ordinance to amend the policy put in place last year limiting escorts for funeral processions by the Clarksville Police Department. Allen said he was bringing the issue back to the council because of what he called “popular demand” from citizens.
The measure failed to pass by a vote of 6-4. The current policy allows seven vehicles including the hearse to be escorted by one officer. The number of vehicles in a procession is not limited but those following the seventh vehicle are required to obey traffic lights and stop signs. In some cases an escorted procession may be longer.
An ordinance to amend city zoning when it comes to homeless shelters near residential areas was postponed by the council after a request from the Executive Director of the Two Rivers Company, Brenda Kelley. The amendment would change the distance from 1,000 feet from a residential area to 500 feet.
Manna Café has plans for a shelter on Frosty Morn Drive and Kelley said that the Clarksville-Montgomery County Regional Planning Commission needs more time to study the issue.
The controversial subject of beekeeping passed the council 9-3 on first reading after an amendment was made to the ordinance proposed by the Regional Planning Commission. The council voted in favor of the State of Tennessee Apiary Act Best Management Practices when it comes to bees.
Councilwoman Deanna McLaughlin proposed a resolution to create and place signs designating Clarksville as the home of veteran and Wounded Warrior Staff Sergeant Heath Calhoun on roadways entering the city. The resolution was passed unanimously by the council and Calhoun received a standing ovation after the vote.
Calhoun, a Fort Campbell Soldier, was injured in Iraq and both of his legs were amputated above the knee. He competed in the in the Paralympic Winter Games in Russia and won a silver medal in sit down skiing.