Published in the Grainger Today, February 21 2007

BEAN STATION – Bean Station may break a world record in 2007 by cooking the world’s largest pot of beans. The Board of Mayor and Aldermen announced at a workshop Monday that they are “shootin’ for a 600 gallon pot.”

Grainger Today publisher, Steve Cason, proposed the idea at a previous workshop back in December, saying it could be fun and might even increase attendance at the annual Harvest Pride Days festival. According to the Guinness World Records website, the current world record for the largest pot of beans was set in 2002 in the city of Horace, North Dakota at 350 gallons of baked beans. Although the City of Bean Station was actually named after the pioneering “Bean” family and for being an important stop (i.e. “Station”) along the southern branch of the Wilderness Road, members of the city council loved Cason’s idea and plan to capitalize on the association. With the assistance of an unnamed local patron, officials hope to have the pot ready in time for this year’s Harvest Pride Days in October.

In other discussions, the board considered a change in insurance providers for its city employees. An insurance quote was given by Donnie Hodge of the Bible Insurance Agency in Morristown. A change to a provider from the current one, Tennessee Municipal League Risk Management Pool (TML), it was suggested, may save the city a few thousand dollars. “And saving money is the bottom line,” said Vice-Mayor Steve Winstead.

Mayor Brewer said that more research must be conducted before a decision is made, however, the board agreed they must decide something by Friday because Sunday, Feb. 25 is the renewal date for the city’s current insurance policy. If they decide to change providers, certain papers would have to be filed.

The board also discussed further details related to changes to the city’s beer permit ordinance but the council agreed that no decisions could be made without a full board present. Alderman Scott Satterfield was not in attendance. The board plans to “hash out the details” of the ordinance at the City Council meeting to be held Monday Feb. 26 at 7 p.m. at city hall.