By Joel Spears

CHURCH HILL - In an effort to help offset the costs of building a new senior citizens center, the City of Church Hill has agreed to implement an annual fee for members.
    The decision was made Tuesday at the city's June Board of Mayor and Aldermen meeting.
    While there was previously no membership fee for the center, a new rate has been set at $20 per year for Church Hill residents and $50 per year for Hawkins County residents.    
    Members who are age 80 and older will receive a free membership.
    The rates will take effect once the new center is open.  
    Currently the facility is under construction on East Main Boulevard and no completion date has been set.
    In other business Tuesday, the board passed its 2009-2010 fiscal year budget with no additional increases to the property tax or sewer rates.
    Church Hill's current property tax rate is 85 cents per $100 of the assessed property value.