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theview
.com
June/July 2016
Arlington Board of Aldermen Appoints Former Alderman
Hugh Lamar to Vacant Seat
By Terry Louderback
With the resignation of Alderman
Gerald McGee due to his relocation
to East Tennessee, the remaining
Alderman were tasked with filling
the vacant position. Arlington Town
Attorney Gerald Lawson instructed
the board that although the seat was
not up for re-election until 2019, the
appointment made at the June 6
Mayor and Board of Alderman
meeting will only be until the next
municipal election in September
2017. At that time, a special election
will be held to fill out the remaining
two years of the term.
Aldermen were given the
opportunity to nominate candidates
for the position. Oscar Brooks
nominated Hugh Lamar, who served
as Alderman from 2002 until 2001.
Larry Harmon, Jr. nominated Cheryl
Pardue. No other nominations were
made.
Lamar was selected by a vote of
five to one, with Harmon as the lone
dissenter. Alderman Brian Thompson
made a statement before his vote
indicating that he felt the appointee
should be an individual who would
not run for election in 2017, as their
appointment would give them an
unfair advantage.
When questioned after the
meeting, Lamar states that he would
not run for alderman in 2017,
pointing out that he was appointed in
2002, ran for election and won in
2003 and 2007, and now will end on
an appointment.
“Any time the town of Arlington
calls me, I’m available,” Lamar said.
“I’m willing to serve in any capacity,
like with the West Tennessee
Veterans
Home
fundraising
campaign. This is a great town.”
Flooding, continued from page 1
inside of the home.”
After the water receded, the
nightmare wasn’t over for Stewart.
“We still had inches of mud,” she
said. “All the floors had to be
removed as well as baseboards on
the entire first floor. Also dry wall
had to be cut out 12-24 inches so we
basically will have to redo the floors
and walls in the entire home.”
On top of that, Stewart learned
that the water restoration company
couldn't guarantee there would not
be moisture in cabinets and walls so
that may all have to come out and be
replaced as well to prevent mold.
Stewart, whose property was not
in a flood zone, wonders if the
disaster could have been prevented.
“I understand we had a lot of rain
in a short amount of time and the
roads
would
have
flooded
regardless,” she said. “However I
think there was a very specific area
that had catastrophic damage that
may have been prevented had the
retention pond and drainage system
been working properly.”
This view of April Stewart’s house shows the height of the
flooding. Photo by Mackenzie Hill.
“Community”
Stewart, like many, many others
impacted by the flooding, is deeply
appreciative of the support that she’s
received from friends and strangers
alike throughout Arlington.
“Faith Baptist Church and LiveFit
deserve a huge shout out. I don't
know what I'd have done without
either of them as a single mom. They
both have helped tremendously. And
Images of flooding from Around Arlington
I didn't even know the people from
Faith. I'm truly humbled and grateful
for all the people that rallied and
have helped up until this point to
help me. I didn't know what I was
going to do. They were a godsend.”
Anyone affected by the flooding
should send photographs and
information to Town Hall in order to
help document the extent of the
flooding.
Clockwise from above, left: Water rises above the wheels on a pickup truck parked on a street in
Summer Meadows; photo by Angela Cooper. Employees of SY Wilson and Company take a boat
ride in Depot Square; photo courtesy of SY Wilson; Flooding partially submerges a car at the
intersection of Highway 70 and Collierville-Arlington; photo by Steve Polson;’ water rises almost
to the level of the railroad tracks on the south side of the Greenlee Street crossing; photo by
Steve Polson.