Cannon Blasts Out At Football Games?

KEITH READY, Courier Contributor


The sounds of cannons being fired during Cannon County High School football games may be a thing of the past.

That is one of the stipulations that the owners of the Pease Farm told Randy Gannon, chairman of the Cannon County Board of Education, if the Board wants to purchase a 6.27 acre lot which runs behind the football field at the high school.

The Pease Farm is divided into three tracts that are for sale. A fourth tract on the property is not for sale. Another stipulation of the proposed transaction will be that a fence is put up to separate the property that will remain in current ownership from the football field.

During the second part of a recessed meeting Thursday night, the Board Of Education made a motion to approve the transaction, but with a stipulation of its own - which is that a gate would be put in the fencing so that any footballs, soccer balls, or other retrievals can be made if necessary. The real estate can be purchased for $30,000.

The next step will be to ask the owners about the gate and if the owners agree, the Board will have to take the matter to the full Cannon County Commission for it’s approval. Board member Chris Blackburn was the only member who voted against the deal.

Also Thursday, the Board approved the Preston Brothers Construction Company's bid of $109,188 to build the Ag Pavilion at the high school. The grant was awarded in the amount of $150,000 with the remainder of the money going toward architect, advertising fees and other project costs. 

Four Seasons Incorporated of Knoxville was awarded the CCHS gym HVAC replacement project for a cost of $124,800.

The Board also approved the proposed 2012-2013 General Purpose Budget. The budget was prepared with the 90.5 cent rate from the county property tax rate, which is the same rate as this fiscal year. The budget includes a 3 percent raise for non-certified personnel and a 2.5 percent raise for teachers, which is mandated by the State.

With no significant increases in the line items, every school in the system will be able to have a full teaching staff.

The proposed budget will now go before the Cannon County Budget Committee Tuesday night at the courthouse for review.

The next School Board Workshop will be July 10 at the Central Office and July 12 will be the next monthly meeting of the Board of Education at Woodbury Grammar School.