Executive Wants New Hanging Limb Center

Overton County Executive Steven Barlow considering the idea of building a new community center for the Hanging Limb community.

Barlow said he would like to build a new community center on the same property as the old one. The old community center burned down after being struck by lightning last summer.

“I just want the community to have a place to gather,” Barlow said. “Right now they gather at the school up there in Wilson, but a place for the family to go. They can rent out family reunions, have public meetings, and things like that up there.”

Barlow said he has yet to approach the county commission about building a new community center. Barlow said he is waiting till the Monroe Community Center is finished before proposing the idea.

“Once it gets finished that’s whenever I’ll look into the price and how we are going to save up the money to build that community center up there,” Barlow said. “Probably gonna put a capital projects plan together to save up the money to build such a building.”

Barlow said the county would likely look into grants to help pay for the project if the commission was interested in moving forward with the project. Barlow said without grants it may be tough to find the funding otherwise.

“Whenever you looking at that you got put different needs in front of it and things like that so it would have to be a capital projects plan as of a need,” Barlow said. “It’s hard to come up with extra money,” Barlow said. “Especially during this time of year.”