Grantville Town Hall draws mainly business owners | News

Council member Dee Berry did not attend.

Proctor prepared for the town hall with a presentation on the city’s utility service, which he said he gets many questions about, particularly electricity.

He noted that about $166,000 in utility services profits helped fund the city’s operations.

“We cover the general budget moving some of that profit into our budget,” Proctor said. “We’d have to double our (property) taxes, because taxes only cover 17 percent of our budget.”

The majority of attendees were city business owners, and they were there simply to hear what the elected officials had to say.

All of them said they were excited about the recent changes in the city.

“Within 2 1/2 years, we’ve got 14 businesses in now, and they’re all doing well,” said Doug Frost, owner of some of the downtown buildings, including the one that houses Beyond Mountains Coffee Shop. “It just inspires people.”

He’s been pleased with the amount of young people looking for a place to raise their families and choosing to settle in Grantville, Frost said.

Charles “Red” and Taylor Phillips, owners of Red’s Grub Shack, which opened about one year ago, have been pleased with the community’s response.

“We’ve expanded, adding more dining room space,” Taylor Phillips says. We went from three employees to seven.”

Joe Marno, the owner of Bricks, which is expected to open as a restaurant, bar, and music venue in a couple of weeks, was surprised at the low turnout.

“I guess nobody heard I was coming,”…