REGULAR MEETING

ASHLAND CITY COUNCIL

 

AUGUST 20, 2007

 

 

     The Ashland City Council met for a regular meeting on August 20, 2007 at 4:00 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 was City Clerk Charles E. Foster, Asst. City Clerk Donna J. Bennett, Police Chief Benny Davis, Maintenance Supervisor Randy Hanners, Code Enforcement Officer Terry Raughton, Acting Fire Chief Chad Toland, Lester Robinson, Leland Steed, Margaret McLemore, Sadie Stephens and Abby Pruet of the Clay Times-Journal.

 

     Mayor Terry Turner was absent due to illness.

 

     Mayor Pro-Tem Steed called the meeting to order and Council Member Thompson gave the invocation.

 

     Council Member Thompson moved to approve the agenda with the following additions. Under New Business - Add Item No. 4 - Acceptance of resignation of Randy Mitchell as Fire Chief and appointing Chad Toland as Fire Chief, Item No. 5 - Hiring Marquis Ballard as a seasonal employee, Item No. 6 - Opening of alleyways on the east side of the courthouse square and Item No. 7 - Reserve police officers.  This motion was seconded by Council Member Boddie and all votes were unanimous.

 

     Council Member Boddie moved to approve the minutes of the previous planning meeting.  Seconded by Council Member Beale and all votes were unanimous.

 

     Council Member Echols moved to approve the minutes of the previous meeting.  Seconded by Council Member Boddie and all votes were unanimous.

 

     Under informational items, it was announced about the Ribbon Cutting for Fabulous Fashions at 12:30 on Tuesday. 

 

     Council Member Echols did not report.

 

     Council Member Thompson reported on the meeting with the merchants and Cathy Gerachis and Cathy Back that was held on August 14, 2007.

 

     Council Member Boddie thanked the Maintenance Department for all their hard work during the heat and after hours work.

 

     Council Member Beale reported on steps to conserve water and possible water restrictions due to the drought.

 

 

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     Asst. City Clerk Bennett reported that City Hall had been contacted by the Clay County EMA office about keeping the Senior Citizen’s department open until 5:00 P.M. each day allowing residents to visit there if they are in need of a cool shelter.

 

     City Clerk Foster did not report.

 

     Police Chief Davis reported that Officer Johnny Hamlin had began at the Police Academy.

 

     Acting Fire Chief Toland asked that the City purchase items to be used during Fire Safety Week which is in October.

 

     Maintenance Supervisor Hanners and Code Enforcement Officer Raughton did not report.

 

     Under new business, Council Member Thompson moved to approve the bills received since the last meeting in the amount of $6808.31.  Council Member Boddie seconded the motion and all votes were unanimous.

 

     Council Member Boddie made a motion to terminate consulting services with Cathy Back of Community VisionWorks, LLC.  A letter will be addressed to Ms. Back to this fact.  Council Member Echols seconded the motion and all votes were unanimous.

 

     Council Member Beale made a motion approving the Jail Contract with the Clay County Commission and authorizing Mayor Terry Turner to sign the above-mentioned contract.  This motion was seconded by Council Member Boddie and all votes were unanimous. 

 

     Council Member Thompson made a motion to accept the resignation of Randy Mitchell as Fire Chief.  This motion was seconded by Council Member Beale and all votes were unanimous.

 

     Council Member Beale made a motion appointing Chad Toland as Fire Chief.  This motion was seconded by Council Members Echols, Thompson and Boddie and all votes were unanimous.

 

     Council Member Boddie made a motion to hire Marquis Ballard as a temporary maintenance employee with a salary of $7.31 per hour and his employment to end October 26, 2007.  This motion was seconded by Council Member Beale and all votes were unanimous.

 

     Council Member Boddie made a motion to remove structures and open the alley ways on the east side of the courthouse square.  This motion was seconded by Council Member Thompson and all votes were unanimous.