REGULAR MEETING

ASHLAND CITY COUNCIL

 

MARCH 20, 2006

 

 

     The Ashland City Council met for a regular meeting on March 20, 2006 at 5:00 P.M. in the Ashland City Hall Auditorium with Mayor Pro-Tem Bobbie J. Steed presiding.  Council Members present were Zeola D. Echols, Gail E. Thompson, Rebecca G. Boddie and Mike Beale. Also present were City Clerk Charles E. Foster, Assistant City Clerk Donna J. Bennett, Police Chief Derrick Forbes, Asst. Police Chief Chris Mathews, Officer David Martin, Officer Jason Gentry, Officer Chris Smith, Officer Tony Knight, Code Enforcement Office Terry Raughton, Fire Chief Randy Mitchell, Maintenance Supervisor Randy Hanners and Kim Medley of the Clay Times-Journal.

 

      Mayor Terry Turner was absent due to the birth of his great-grandson.

 

      Mayor Pro-Tem Steed called the meeting to order.

 

      Council Member Thompson gave the invocation.

 

     Council Member Thompson moved to approve the agenda.  This motion was seconded by Council Member Echols and all votes were unanimous.

 

     Council Member Thompson moved to approve the minutes of the council meeting held on February 20, 2006.  Seconded by Council Member Boddie and all votes were unanimous.

 

     Council Member Boddie made a motion to approve the minutes of the Public Hearing held on March 6, 2006.  This motion was seconded by Council Member Echols and all votes were unanimous.

 

     Council Member Boddie moved to approve the minutes of the previous council meeting held on March 6, 2006.  Seconded by Council Member Thompson and all votes were unanimous.

 

     There were no informational items to bring before the council.

 

     Under committee reports, Council Member Echols did not report.

 

     Council Member Thompson reported that she had spoken with Maintenance Supervisor Hanners about the placement of soil around the skate park to eliminate sharp edges.  She recommended that sod be laid or grass planted.  Second, Council Member Thompson asked that the playground equipment be repaired at the park.  Thirdly, she reported that it had been discussed about a storage shed at the maintenance department to house outdoor equipment from inclement weather.  Quotes had been received about the construction on a shed.  Council Member Thompson also asked that they consider a prefabricated metal building for this use.  Next, she thanked

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the Chief of Police for allowing a work release prisoner to work with the maintenance department in the cleanup of the city streets.  Last, she commended the police department and the fire department for their quick response to an accident on Thursday.

 

     Council Member Boddie did not report.

 

     Council Member Beale asked that Council Member Thompson get prices for the prefabricated buildings previously discussed.  Council Member Beale also asked that if everyone was in agreement that the sod for the skate park be purchased and that the maintenance department lay it.  All members in attendance were in agreement with this purchase.

 

     Council Member Beale reported that Fire Chief Mitchell had spoken with Louise Campbell concerning a grant to help purchase the equipment needed by the fire department to hopefully help with the ISO rating for the department.

 

     City Clerk Foster did not report.

 

     Police Chief Forbes reported that night shift dispatcher Wendy Burroughs had submitted her resignation from the department.  At this time Council Member Beale made a motion to accept the resignation of Ms. Burroughs.  This motion was seconded by Council Member Thompson and all votes were unanimous.  A motion was made by Council Member Beale to open the position of night shift dispatcher with a motion by Council Member Thompson and motion was passed unanimously.

 

     Police Chief Forbes briefly spoke on the accident that occurred last Thursday with one of the police department vehicles.  Chief Forbes stated that he was waiting on an accident report from the trooper’s office.

 

     Fire Chief Mitchell reported that the cascade system had been delivered and a technician would be at the department March 21 to install and demonstrate the system.

 

     Maintenance Supervisor Hanners did not report.

 

     Code Enforcement Officer Raughton did not report.

 

     Under new business, Council Member Beale moved to approve the bills received since the last meeting in the amount of $33969.95.  Council Member Thompson seconded the motion and all votes were unanimous.

 

     Council Member Boddie made a motion authorizing Council Member Zeola Echols to serve as voting delegate at the Alabama League of Municipalities’s convention to be held May 9, 2006.  This motion was seconded by Council Member Thompson and all votes were unanimous.