By By Lisa Tindell – news editor
The City of Atmore utilities department received the blessing of the Escambia County Board of Education Thursday as they were granted a 35-foot easement for utility work near Escambia County Middle School.
Paul Darnell represented the city of Atmore's utilities department as he made the request for the easement to install utility lines along the right-of-way in front of the school.
William Grissett, school board member representing the Atmore area, said he felt the addition of the water lines resulting in a fire hydrant at the property would be a financial benefit for the system as well.
Although school will be in session by the time the work begins on the project, Darnell said safety would not be an issue.
After some additional discussion, board members unanimously agreed to grant the easement to the city of Atmore.
Two special sessions were agreed upon by board members to hold hearings for the 2009 school budgets. The meetings will be held Sept. 4 with the first public hearing set for 10 a.m. A second public hearing session will be held at 4 p.m. followed by a regular board meeting at 4:30 p.m.in which the proposed budget is expected to be approved.
In other business, the board: