REGULAR MEETING

ASHLAND CITY COUNCIL

 

JANUARY 7, 2008

 

 

     The Ashland City Council met for a regular meeting on January 7, 2008 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, Librarian Tina Nolen, Abby Pruet of the Clay Times-Journal, Lester Robinson, Rickey Smith, Jessica Smith and Leland Steed.

 

     Fire Chief Chad Toland was absent.

    

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

 

     Council Member Boddie moved to approve the agenda with the following changes.  Under Informational Items, remove Item No. 1.  Under New Business, add  Item No. 3. - Authorize the Mayor to amend Section 15.1 of the contract between A-G-L and the City of Ashland to reflect a 50 cents per month increase; Item No. 4. - Hiring of a dispatcher for the Police Department; Item No. 5. - Approval to purchase radios and repeater for the Police Department with reimbursement to be made through a grant with the Clay Council EMA; Item No. 6. - Awning for the library; Item No. 7. - Opening of compensated part-time Fire Chief position and Item No. 8 - Purchase of Wii System for the Senior Center. This motion was seconded by Council Member Steed and all votes were unanimous.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

     Council Member Thompson addressed the Mayor and Council with facts concerning the many misconstrued statements that had been made about the new Business License Ordinance.  A copy of the statement was read out loud and is enclosed with the minutes.  Council Member Thompson also gave the Clay Times-Journal reporter in attendance a copy for print.

 

     Council Member Thompson also thanked the Maintenance Department for getting the Christmas decorations up and down in a timely manner.

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     Council Member Boddie thanked the Maintenance Department for the lovely meal and fellowship that was held before the holidays.  Council Member Beale repeated Ms. Boddie’s appreciation.

 

     City Clerk Foster and Police Chief Davis did not report.

 

     Maintenance Supervisor Hanners thanked several for their help during the preparations for the pre-holiday meal.

 

     Code Enforcement Officer Raughton acknowledged the Maintenance Department for their assistance in helping move the Seniors into their new facility at the Wynn Building.

 

     Librarian Tina Nolen stated that they had some heating problems, but that repairs had and were being made.  Ms. Nolen also wanted everyone to be aware that the Library had forms and information for the current tax season.

 

     Under New Business, Council Member Boddie moved to approve the bills received since the last meeting in the amount of $21832.71.  This motion was seconded by Council Member Thompson and all votes were unanimous.

 

     Council Member Thompson made a motion to change the next regularly scheduled meeting to Tuesday, January 22 at 5:00 P.M. due to the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday.  This motion was seconded by Council Member Echols and all votes were unanimous.

 

     Council Member Beale made a motion authorizing Mayor Turner to amend Section 15.1 of the contract between A-G-L Solid Waste Disposal Authority and the City of Ashland to reflect a fifty (50) cents per month increase due to the increase in fuel costs since the service commencement date of the contract.  This motion was seconded by Council Member Boddie and all votes were unanimous.

 

     Upon the recommendation of Chief Davis, Council Member Beale made a motion to hire Christie Fables as a nighttime dispatcher with the Police Department with a rate of pay as Range 9, Step 1 with a one-step increase due to night shift.  This motion was seconded by Council Member Boddie and all votes were unanimous.

 

     Council Member Beale made a motion to purchase handheld radios and a repeater for the Police Department at a cost of $10837.50.  This amount was pre-approved by a grant with the Clay County Emergency Management Agency.  The City will purchase the afore mentioned equipment with a reimbursement to be made by the EMA.  This motion was seconded by Council Member Steed and all votes were unanimous.

 

     Council Member Beale made a motion to purchase an awning for the Library at a cost of $2730.00.  This price also includes installation.  This motion was seconded by Council Member Echols and all votes were unanimous.