MURFREESBORO – This sleepy little college town on the banks of the Meherrin River is buzzing with activity in the wake of a severe thunderstorm on May 31, one that included baseball size hail.

Insurance adjusters and construction crews from several states are in town, assessing and repairing damage. The majority of the damage was to residential/commercial property roofs and vehicle windows.

Town and county officials estimate private property damage was done to approximately 50 homes and in excess of 100 vehicles

As for the damage to municipal-owned property, it was reported at Wednesday’s scheduled meeting of the Murfreesboro Town Council that six structures were impacted. Additionally, the hailstorm damaged seven town vehicles (five used by the Murfreesboro Police Department, and one each from the town’s Fire and Public Works departments).

Also at Wednesday’s meeting, Council members heard a presentation from two representatives of Storm Team Construction. They were seeking to perform repairs to town-owned structures.

Mayor Hal Thomas said no bids are currently being accepted for those repairs due to the fact that the town is still waiting for an appraiser from their insurance carrier to assess the damages. Thomas also mentioned that the roof of the town’s Municipal Building, which was reportedly damaged by hail, was still under an extended warranty purchased by the town.

There was also discussion among Council members at Wednesday’s meeting pertaining to the public’s perception that Storm Team Construction had received an endorsement from the town.

Councilman Billy Theodorakis voiced his opinion on that matter, saying he was puzzled as to the reason why Storm Team Construction had set up a temporary office (an RV unit) on town-owned property and were connected to the town’s electricity and water.

Theodorakis said he asked Storm Team Construction to move their RV off the town’s property, to which the business obliged.

“I had many town citizens tell me that upon seeing that RV parked on the town’s property, they felt this company was working for us,” Theodorakis said. “They believed the town had endorsed this one certain company. We have not endorsed anyone.”

Mayor Thomas informed the Storm Team Construction representatives attending Wednesday’s meeting that they, along with other contractors, would be allowed to submit a bid on repairs to town-owned property upon completion of the insurance adjuster’s work and checking on the Municipal Building’s roof warranty.