The Board of Aldermen held a meeting on Monday night April 4, 2011 at 7:00 PM. Those present included Mayor Calvin Wilson, Alderpersons Greg Richmond, Kevin Reardon, and Kristin Lett. Also present were City Clerk Paula Brodie, Officer Curt Drake, City Supervisor David Brodie Tax Collector Dawn Bunch and Municipal Judge Clyde Davidson. Guests included Belinda Hudson, Bill Hess and J R Fisher. Ald Kohley was not present.
The Mayor called the meeting to order at 7:00PM.
The Board of Aldermen discussed the minutes from March 15, 2011. Ald Richmond moved to approve the minutes from March 15, 2011. Ald Lett seconded. Aldermen Reardon, Lett and Richmond voted aye with no nay votes.
The Board discussed the Recreational Board Directors position.
Clyde Davidson stated the recreation board recommended re-appointing Stewart Pace. He noted that Stewart was out of town and could not be present.
Ald Lett moved to re-appoint Stewart Pace Recreational Board Director. Ald Reardon seconded. Aldermen Reardon, Lett, and Richmond voted aye with no nay votes.
The Mayor noted that the Board had received a request from Johnny and Belinda Hudson to average the water bill from146 N. School St. It was noted that they had a renter that moved out during the snow storm, leaving the heat off and the line busted. Mrs. Hudson stated that her husband put a zip tie on the meter to keep anyone from accidentally turning it back on. Mrs. Hudson stated that the busted line has been fixed. The Board discussed whether or not to average the whole bill. Ald Richmond stated that due to the fact it was during the snow storm he felt the Board should average the complete bill. Ald Reardon made the motion to average the complete bill. Ald Lett seconded. Aldermen Reardon, Lett, and Richmond voted aye with no nay votes.
The Board discussed Bill No. 2011-421 for Ordinance No. 2011-431 increasing the minimum sewer rate by $.50. The Mayor read Bill No. 2011-421 for Ordinance No. 2011-431 for the first reading.
Ald Richmond moved to approve the first reading of Bill No. 2011-421 for Ordinance No. 2011-431 increasing the minimum sewer rate by $.50. Ald Reardon seconded. Aldermen Reardon, Lett, and Richmond voted aye with no nay votes.
The Board discussed Bill No. 2011-422 for Ordinance No. 2011-432 increasing the minimum sewer rate by $.50. The Mayor read Bill No. 2011-422 for Ordinance No. 2011-432 for the first reading.
Ald Lett moved to approve the first reading of Bill No. 2011-422 for Ordinance No. 2011-432 increasing the minimum sewer rate by $.50. Ald Reardon seconded. Aldermen Reardon, Lett and Richmond voted aye with no nay votes.
The Board discussed Bill No. 2011-423 for Ordinance No. 2011-433 increasing the minimum sewer rate by $.50. The Mayor read Bill No. 2011-423 for Ordinance No. 2011-433 for the first reading.
Ald Richmond moved to approve the first reading of Bill No. 2011-423 for Ordinance No. 2011-433 increasing the minimum sewer rate by $.50. Ald Reardon seconded. Aldermen Reardon, Richmond and Let voted aye with no nay votes.
The Department heads made the following reports:
Tom West –not present.
David Brodie -discussed a letter that Mrs. Keel sent to the Mayor regarding being reimbursed for a broken sewer line that she felt was broken by the water improvement contractors as they were installing new water lines to her rental property at 122 E. Russell St. Her letter asked for reimbursement for the rent of a sewer auger 7 times plus 14 hours of labor, plus fuel to pick up the auger, plus installing 90’ of pipe, labor to install the pipe and reimbursement for her renter moving out without notice because the sewer line was stopped up. The total reimbursement request was for $1567.00. Ald Lett asked if there were receipts attached to the letter and was told no. The board asked if David would explain what he knew about the situation. David stated that when the contractors were installing the line they crushed it in one place. He said the Keel’s asked for the contractor to fix it, which they did by installing a rubber boot. David stated that he had talked with Mr. Keel about a sewer problem a couple of times since it was repaired. David stated that he told Mr. Keel that if he would have the line stripped out; David could look at the line and see if the City was responsible. It was noted that the water project was completed 5 years ago and that the contractor’s works was only guaranteed for 3 years. David stated that if Mr. Keel would do what he asked he could see if it had been the city’s fault and if so he felt that the Board of Aldermen would be willing to help with the expense to repair it, however he did not think that the city should be responsible for all of the items in Mrs. Keels request.
David stated that he would suggest the Board write to her, suggesting that she have her husband strip the line out to the main. David will then look at it and if it is the cities fault the city will fix it. Regarding the items on that Mrs. Keels is asking for reimbursement, David would suggest that they were things Mr. Keel took upon himself to try and the city should not be responsible to reimburse. The Board agreed that Mr. Keel should have come to the Board and asked them to look into it years ago if he was still having trouble. The Board agreed to follow David’s suggestion by having the clerk to write Mrs. Keels with his suggestion.
Dawn Bunch – Board received her report in their packets. She informed the Board that she had only collected 71% of the taxes so far.
Paula Brodie- asked the Board to look over the information from Ameriscan on a program called Minutes-On-Demand which organizes the city’s Web-site into an easy to use, easy to search application. She noted that all of the documents will be indexed, uploaded and searchable by any key word. She asked the Board to look into purchasing the program as the clerks spend valuable time researching requests made by citizens and the Board. The initial setup fee is $500.00 which includes the scanning of 5,000 pages. She noted that a lot of the minutes, agenda and the code book are on CD so those would not need to be scanned, but several years of the older minutes would need to be scanned. The clerk stated that she felt it would help the Board of Aldermen and the citizens by their being able to go to the web-site, search through the minutes, agendas, and code book. The annual web hosting services costs $495.00 a year.
reported that the Annual Region M Management Council Meeting is going to be held on April 13th. She asked if the Mayor or one of the Aldermen could attend as the city is required to have a member present. The Mayor and Aldermen stated that they could not attend and asked the clerk to attend to represent the City. Ald Richmond moved to have Paula attend and also approved her to be a voting member for this meeting. Ald Reardon seconded. Aldermen Reardon, Lett and Richmond voted aye with no nay votes.
The Board of Aldermen discussed the following old business:
- Estimates on running electricity for City Hall and Police Department Generators. David said he had not gotten any estimates yet. Tabled to next meeting.
- Discuss water easement at First Community Bank. David reported that he had talked to Shay the job foremen from First Community Bank and Jill Beshears from the bank are going to make sure that a water line easement is on the banks plans.
- Discuss what Board of Aldermen thought about the burned out trailer at 113 E. Stites St. belonging to Joshua Bradford. Calvin stated he thought it needed to be torn down. The Board agreed to send a letter to Steven Bradford asking for them to tear down the trailer. If they have any questions they can come to the next meeting.
- Kevin asked about a street light on Barlow Street. David stated he would look into it.
The Board of Aldermen discussed the following new business.
Ald Richmond asked if the Board had decided to put up a fence along Barlow Street at the new park. Clyde stated that the betterment club might be willing to do it as a project. Tabled until the next meeting.
The Board discussed the bills for April 4, 2011 for $41,356.80 including transfers. Ald Richmond moved to approve the bills. Ald Lett seconded. Aldermen Richmond, Lett and Richmond voted aye with no nay votes.
Ald Richmond moved to adjourn. Ald Reardon seconded. Aldermen Lett, Richmond, Reardon voted aye with no nay votes.
__________________________
Calvin Wilson, Mayor
Attest:
______________________________
Paula W Brodie, MRCC, City Clerk
Approved: ____________________
Date: ________________