Smiley council closes streets for Bantam Fest

Just as it has done in previous years, the Smiley city council voted to close down parts of Steele, Anglin and Commerce Streets for the forthcoming Bantam Fest event. After a very brief deliberation, the council unanimously approved the closures.

“They want to know if they could just close them down, they also asked about the dirt road in the back,” Mayor Michael K. Mills said. “They just want to keep people from coming up from behind back there because they had a little trouble with Easter egg hunt the other day. People were driving there, and little kids were running around.”

Bantam Fest is an annual festival held in Smiley. This year will feature shops, a petting zoo, games, a car show and live music. The event is scheduled to run from 11 a.m. to midnight at the Smiley Community Center on May 4.

Other news from the meeting:

• Discussions regarding switching city employee health insurance companies were tabled for a future meeting.
• Council approved a motion to begin charging groups and individuals a $50 deposit to use the Smiley Community Center. They also agreed to begin asking non-rental groups that use the building for donations.
• Discussions on abandoning lots on Ellis St. and Billings St. were tabled for a future meeting.