n More businesses

could develop.

By Mack Spencer

Monitor-Herald

CALHOUN CITY - Aldermen on Tuesday night approved a lease on the remaining building in the Madison Street Kellwood complex, paving the way for up to 30 new jobs.

Med-Lift Inc. owners and managers A.D. and Linda Blount and Justin and Allison Nichols, along with an out-of-town investor, have started a new children's furniture company called Kid's World. The specialty will be children's recliners, mayor J.R. Denton said.

"What happened is, A.D. went to High Point (North Carolina) to sell lift chairs and came back with orders for kid's furniture," Denton said. "They're going to hire about 30 immediately, and if things work out, they could double that in 12 to 16 months.amp"

Denton said another company could be started to handle upholstery of the Kid's World furniture.

"The good thing about this is that it's home-grown," alderman Larry Bratton said.

Kid's World will operate in the metal building on the east side of the old Kellwood complex. The other buildings in the complex are now the Calhoun County Career-Technical Center and the Veterans of Foreign Wars meeting hall.

This is the second business city officials have announced for the building since the closure of Kellwood. Athletix, a uniform manufacturer based in Kosciusko, had expressed interest in the building, but backed out after several months.

In other business:

n The board doubled the connection fee to the town water system from $50 to $100.

According to town records, over a period of years, 266 water customers moved without paying final water bills of $50 or less, for a total of $7,323 covered by deposits.

During the same time, 313 water customers moved while owing water bills of more than $50, which actually average to almost $100. Those bills totaled $31,512.

n The town and summer leagues will jointly purchase a portable pitcher's mound, allowing the town to host baseball tournaments without having to haul dirt.

n The policy governing the parks and recreation advisory board was revised.

n The board adopted an identity theft prevention program.

n Town police will participate in the Click It or Ticket campaign May 18-31.

n A new policy adopted for the police department requires funeral homes to request police escorts for motorcades at least 24 hours before needed. Only funeral homes may make such a request.