FAIRMONT — It was a homecoming for two former residents whose efforts to give back to their hometown were recognized at Tuesday’s Fairmont Board of Commissioners meeting.

During the commissioner input portion of the meeting, Commissioner Charles Kemp turned his time over to Fairmont High School graduate, Joe Williams, who is locating Fairmont Drug Company on the 400 block of Walnut Street along with another business.

He owns several pharmacies in the county that specialize in home delivery.

“We’re doing the demolition now and by late summer and early fall we will be opening up our doors,” he said.

Williams said he came back because there is a need.

“Everything we do is going to improve the town,” he said. “I love Fairmont and we’re building a new building to improve the health care in Fairmont. We set ourselves apart in service and go the extra mile to make sure our patients are taken care of.”

Town Manager Katrina Tatum introduced Maurice Townsend, an entrepreneur who recently returned to Fairmont after working in Atlanta. Since moving back, Townsend has already purchased, renovated and rented out five homes and wants to open a convenience store.

In other business, Tatum presented the board with a list of 11 dilapidated house along the town’s main thoroughfares that are targeted for demolition. She said the next step would be to seek out the owners to try to collect the back taxes and tell them of town’s ultimate aim of demolishing the property.

“We have to do our due diligence at trying to contact the owners before we do anything else,” she said.

As part of his report to the board, Fairmont Fire Chief John Woodall expressed the need for the commissioners to help with purchasing equipment for firefighters. He said having better gear, dress uniforms and other amenities could boost morale and attract more volunteers.

“I want to build a department where we get there first,” he said. “We want to be able to take care of our own.”

Tatum said if they needed help, all they had to do was ask.

“We’ve never stopped supporting the fire department,” she said. “This commission supports them financially and all they have to do is ask and they haven’t done that.”

The board also discussed ways to keep the town and its roadways clean after Woodall pointed out the problem of trash. The commissioners urged residents to contact them about trash problems.

Commissioner Terry Evans said part of the problem is county dumpster sites are a long drive.

“A lot of households don’t have a car and the dumpster is five to 10 miles away from your home,” he said.

Tatum said she had Adopt-A-Highway applications available for those who want to do their part .

Tatum announced the promotion of Jenny Larson from deputy finance director to the town’s new full-time finance director and town clerk.

“It was like pulling fingernails but she accepted the position,” Tatum said.

David Pollard

Staff writer

Reach David Pollard at 910-416-5165 or via email at [email protected].