City council members gave the Chamber of Commerce the okay to update its look with a digital sign at the Chamber’s 300 South Wall Street location.

The sign, said council member Al Edwards, will feature scrolling, not flashing, text similar to the digital sign at CVS pharmacy on North Wall Street.

The Chamber facility falls within the business district, in which flashing signs are prohibited, he said. CVS is located outside the district. The marguee at the GEM Theater, inside the district, is another exception to the rule, he pointed out.

Edwards said he recommended approval of the variance because the Chamber will be using the sign for “community-oriented promotions,” as opposed to retail advertising.

Revolving loan fund

Another local business has applied for a loan from the city’s revolving loan fund. City council members agreed to grant Iwhisper, a Calhoun-based telecommunications company, a $120,000 five-year equipment loan.

The money will also help the company to create four jobs and maintain four existing positions, council member George Crowley said.

This loan will bring the fund down to about $900,000, City Administrator Eddie Peterson said.

Also during the Nov. 9 meeting, city council members:

- Agreed to adopt a new soil and sedimentation ordinance; the update to the Calhoun’s current ordinance keeps the guidelines in line with state regulations and will allow the city to continue being its own certifying agency in this area, mayor Jimmy Palmer said.

- Granted a request from Public Works Director Kevin McEntire to sell five vehicles as surplus on Govdeals.com: a 1999 International dump truck, a 1990 Ford F-800 dump truck, a 1996 Caterpillar 426 B Backhoe and a 1990 Ford C & C 1-ton dual axel truck.

- Approved the LARP (Local Assistance Road Program) resurfacing list, which includes Crest Drive and Hunts Drive.

- Conducted the first reading of renewal requests from businesses throughout the city with beer, wine and liquor pouring, beer pouring, beer and wine pouring, beer package, beer and wine pack-age, beer, wine and liquor package, taxi and pawn licenses. The second hearing will be Nov. 23.

- Set a public hearing date of Jan. 11 for a three-foot variance request for a set back to the right of way from Thane Langille for a pump house.

- Set a public hearing date of Jan. 11 for a variance request from Larry Henderson to set up a mobile commercial, industrialized building to be used as a classroom at the airport.