The Greenwood City Council discussed service plans Tuesday for a soldier who died in Afghanistan.
Horne, a 2010 Greenwood High School graduate, who served with the Army’s 101st Airborne Division, died on Friday while on duty at Bagram, Afghanistan, as part of Operation Enduring Freedom.
Greenwood Mayor Carolyn McAdams told the council members that she had met with Horne’s mother and brother earlier in the day.
McAdams said the family is looking for space to hold a meal after Horne’s funeral, which hasn’t been scheduled yet.
Horne’s body, which was returned to Dover Air Force Base, Del., on Sunday, will be released to the family during the next few days.
McAdams said the family is hoping to have the event Sept. 8.
“I called the Youth Center, but it is booked solid for Saturday the eighth,” the mayor said. “Then I called the Civic Center; it doesn’t have anything. I put a call in to the people that have the Confederate Memorial Building.”
Other possible sites being considered for the event — which is expected to draw a large contingent of out-of-town military officials — include the Mississippi Army National Guard Armory on Sycamore Avenue, McAdams said.
McAdams said the city would issue a proclamation honoring the courage and sacrifice of Horne.
The Horne family is seeking donations to cover the cost of food and refreshments at the event. McAdams said she plans to make a personal donation for the refreshments and other members of the council agreed with making a similar gesture.
In other business, the council approved the tax levies for the city and the Greenwood School District for the 2013 fiscal year, which begins Oct. 1.
The city’s millage rate is 48.26 mills, which is unchanged from 2012. The school district’s millage rate is 50.25 mills, which is also unchanged from last year.
A mill is 1/10th of a cent. The millage rate is applied to the assessed value of property to determine the tax bill for homes, cars and other property.
The council will formally approve the proposed $11.35 million general fund budget next Tuesday.
No one spoke Tuesday at a public hearing on the budget.
• Contact Bob Darden at 581-7239 or bdarden@gwcommonwealth.com.
