ASHLAND CITY COUNCIL

 

DECEMBER 17, 2007

 

 

     The Ashland City Council met for a regular meeting on December 17, 2007 at 5:00 P.M. in the Ashland City Hall Auditorium with Mayor Terry Turner presiding. Council Members present were Zeola D. Echols, Bobbie J. Steed, 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, City Attorney John K. Johnson, Abby Pruet of the Clay Times-Journal, Lester Robinson, Mike Knight, Melody Knight, Larry Fetner, Mattie Jones, Estella Smith and Angela Zachery.

 

     Librarian Tina Nolen and Fire Chief Chad Toland were absent.

    

     Mayor Turner called the meeting to order and Council Member Boddie gave the invocation.

 

     Council Member Boddie moved to approve the agenda with the following additions.  Under New Business, Item No. 2. - Accept resignation of Mashema Brown as Dispatcher with the Police Department and Item No. 3. - Opening of Dispatcher position with the Police Department.  Add under Resolutions, Ordinance, Orders and Other Business, Item No. 1. - Adoption of Ordinance No. 2007-12-17-01 providing for penalties for the excessive use of water during drought conditions.  This motion was seconded by Council Member Thompson and all votes were unanimous.

 

     Council Member Beale moved to approve the minutes of the Public Hearing for CDBG SM-CE-PF-95 Senior Center Project.  This motion was seconded by Council Member Thompson and all votes were unanimous.

 

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

 

     Council Member Echols moved to approve the minutes of the previous meeting. The motion was seconded by Council Member Boddie and all votes were unanimous.

 

     Minister Estella Smith spoke to the Mayor and Council concerning a message that she had received from God for them.  Ms. Smith said that God said that the headships of the City needed to be committed back to Jesus and that all things will change.  Ms.  Smith also quoted a scripture from the bible.

 

     Larry Fetner spoke on behalf of several local business owners who were concerned with the recent increase in business licenses.

 

     Under Committee Reports, Mayor Turner, Council Members Echols, Steed, Thompson and Beale did not report.

12/17/2007                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Page 2

 

     Council Member Boddie stated that all the work the Maintenance Department was doing at the new Industrial site was looking good.

 

     Maintenance Supervisor Hanners reported that several trees at the Northside Park were rotten and needed to be taken down.  He had received a quote from Joel Lamberth of $600.00.  Permission was granted for removal of these trees.

 

     City Clerk Foster, Police Chief Davis 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 $10392.03.  Council Member Boddie seconded the motion and all votes were unanimous.

 

     Council Member Beale made a motion to accept the resignation of Mashema Brown as Dispatcher with the Police Department effective January 3, 2008.  This motion was seconded by Council Member Boddie and all votes were unanimous.

 

     Council Member Beale made a motion to open the position of night-time Dispatcher with the Police Department and advertise with a salary of Range 9, Step 1.  This motion was seconded by Council Member Thompson and all votes were unanimous.

 

     Council Member Beale made a motion to suspend the rules to consider adoption of Ordinance No. 2007-12-17-01 providing for penalties for the excessive use of water during drought conditions.  This motion was seconded by Council Member Boddie

and upon roll call voting went as follows: Council Members Echols, Steed, Thompson, Boddie and Beale voting yea and Mayor Turner voting yea.

 

     Council Member Beale made a motion to adopt Ordinance No. 2007-12-17-01 providing for penalties for the excessive use of water during drought conditions.  This motion was seconded by Council Member Boddie and upon roll call voting went as follows: Council Member Echols, Steed, Thompson, Boddie and Beale voting yea and Mayor Turner voting yea.

 

     At this time and after much discussion, Mayor Turner called a Planning Meeting to be held on December 18, 2007 at 5:30 P.M. to discuss possible changes or amendments to Ordinance No. 2007-12-03-01 concerning the Business License Schedule for the City of Ashland.  The newspaper was notified at this time.