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Columbia City Council meeting January 3, 2011 report
Click on headline for full story plus photo(s) By Ed Waggener There's a new way of doing business at Columbia City Hall. Mayor Mark D. Harris made that clear at the outset of last night's meeting of the Columbia City Council. Though his election was tacitly blessed by the outgoing mayor and his tenure is seen by some as a continuation of the Patrick R. Bell administration, he made overtures to the public, the media, to other units of government and to City Council for greater cooperation, more openness in his term. The torch was passed to a new generation, markedly so in the elevation of young 30s Councillor Craig Dean to Mayor Pro Tem, by virtue of his tenure as Senior Council Member. Continuity of Government After routine business was handled, including roll call, approval of minutes, and a perfunctory second reading of an update to the Code of Ordinances, Mayor Harris introduced the Continuity of Government team he proposed for succession and temporary leadership when necessary. Craig Dean, 32, will be the Mayor Pro Tem, with Councillor June Parson second, and Linda Waggener third in line of succession, by virtue of their years of service. Mayor Harris said that tenure on the Council was his first priority in the line of succession. For fourth, fifth, and sixth persons in the line of succession, he said, the ranking would be by total number of votes, with Robert Flowers chosen for fourth in line, Jim Hadley for fifth, and Tony Grider sixth. All three elected in 2010. The Continuity of Government proposal was adopted unanimously on a motion by Councillor Tony Grider, with a second by Councillor Jim Hadley. In a separate action, Dean named Mayor Pro Tem In a separate action, on a motion by Councillor Robert Flowers, seconded by June Parson, Craig Dean was made Mayor Pro Tem by a unanimous voice vote. Mayor Bell will sit on Municipal Housing Authority Mayor Harris recommended his predecessor, Mayor Pat Bell, for a seat on the Municipal Housing Authority, to fill out the unexpired term of Lynn McLean. The recommendation passed on a motion by Councillor Craig Dean, with a second by June Parson. Mayor Harris recommended a four year re-appointment for Dale Bennett to the same board. The motion carried on a motion by Councillor June Parson, seconded by Councillor Tony Grider. Howard Loy re-appointed to Columbia-Adair County Airport Board Mayor Harris re-appointed Howard Loy to another term on the Columbia-Adair County Airport Board. The appointment was unanimously approved on a motion by Craig Dean, seconded by Linda Waggener. Sue Stivers reappointed to the Planning & Zoning Commision Mayor Harris reappointed Sue Stivers to the Planning & Zoning Commission. The appointment was unanimously approved by a voice vote on a motion by Robert Flowers, seconded by Tony Grider. Linda Waggener appointed to Columbia Cemetery Board Linda Waggener was appointed to represent the City on the Columbia Cemetery Board. She will take the seat formerly held by Councillor Joe Moore. The appointment was approved on a motion by Jim Hadley, with a second by Craig Dean. Open records, open meetings information given to Council Mayor Harris gave each member of the council a paper from the Kentucky League of Cities on Open Records, Open Meetings, and asked each to sign a form that they had received the material. Retirement Dinner for Mayor Bell, City Clerk Carolyn Edwards Mayor Harris announced a retirement dinner tonight at Trinity Fellowship Hall for outgoing Mayor Patrick Bell and City Clerk Carolyn Edwards and asked Council members, along with other invited guests, to attend. City Officials Academy in Cave City The Mayor announces a retreat for city officials, a City Officials Academy in Cave City, KY. He said with five new officials - three new City Council members, the Mayor, and City Clerk - the academy would be an important one. Mayor outlines how his administration will work In his remarks, Mayor Harris gave a brief outline of the manner in which business will be conducted in his administration. To the Council, the media, and the public, he stated an aim to keep everyone informed. He apologized for not getting prior information to the public on his appointments made last night, but noted that his first work day in office was also the night of the first regular session of the Council. Drainage issues, street lights, and sidewalks will be addressed on a day-to-day basis, he said. If a member of the Council brings an issue to City Hall which can be immediately resolved, it will be done by the City staff. He specifically sent messages to those who had voiced concerns on maintenance issues, saying that he remembered their requests from meeting them during the campaign. "We will be addressing all those issues," he said. Mayor Harris said that his campaign had also impressed upon him the need for more jobs in the community. He said a lot of people, including some members of the City Council, have to drive out of the county to jobs elsewhere. "We're going to look at everything, even if it's a lemonade stand," in announcing a special initiative to create greater employment in Columbia. He said that Downtown Columbia will receive new focus, and that he will be looking at a Main Street program for Columbia. Council singing from same page When the Council Response and Comments were made, there was near unanimity to work for the goals Mayor Harris outlined:Senior Councillor Craig Dean welcomed the new members of the Council, and responded to the Mayor's jobs by quipping, "I'm available to help. I'll even help with the lemonade stand." Dean, is one of two of the Council members whose jobs are out of county. Linda Waggener is the other. Dean told the Mayor and Council that he is excited about the possibilities for accomplishments in the coming four years. Councillor Linda Waggener endorsed the Mayor's Downtown Initiative and she was honored to be serving on the Columbia Cemetery Board. Downtown development has been a passion of Councillor Waggener for several decades. Councillor Robert Flowers, told the Board that, while this was his first elected office, he wasn't unfamiliar with the process after serving as Chairman of the Board of the Columbia Utilities Department. He said he supports the Mayor's priority for jobs creation, and said that the Downtown has always been a passion of his. Flowers also requested monthly financials on the City Gas Department. It's a sales driven entity, he said, whereas other departments are tax driven. Councillor Tony Grider endorsed the revitalization of Downtown, as well, telling the council that he believes the Downtown, with its structures, is one of the most beautiful anywhere, and that preservation and revitalization is on of the biggest issues facing the community. Councillor Jim Hadley said that he was impressed with the New Way of Thinking pervading the Mayor-Council relationship, and enthusiastically backed both Mayor Harris' jobs program and his Downtown revitalization efforts. He said he believes, based on increased sales in his own businesses, that the economy is improving. There's new opportunity, he said, and that means more jobs will be coming to Columbia, KY. Councillor June Parsons acknowledged and welcomed the new members and the deep love each has stated for the community. There's been a lot of thinking about possibilities, she said, and added that through working together, more will be accomplished. Councillor Parsons again called for financial reports to be more freely shared with the council than had been so in the past, and Mayor Harris agreed to that. Councillor Robert Flowers assumes caretaker role for friend Joe Moore Councillor Robert Flowers, a close friend and Joe Moore fan, stepped in to carry on Moore's tradition of adjourning the meetings. On a cue from Mayor Harris that the business was concluded, Councillor Flowers, at 6:29pmCT, said, "I move we adjourn." And they did. Meeting well attended. There was a capacity crowd in the gallery for the first meeting. Besides those previously named, city officials in attendance were Chief of Police Jason Cross, City Gas Department Manager Ron Cook, City Planning & Zoning Commissioner Roy Rademacher; also attending were County Constables Joe Collins, Jr, and Shannon Rowe, as well as members of the media. About your Columbia City Council The Columbia City Council meets each first Monday in the Council Meeting Room, City Hall, 115 Campbellsville ST, Columbia, KY.The meetings are open to the public. Mayor Mark D. Harris. Councillors Craig Dean, June Parson, Linda Waggener, Robert Flowers, Jim Hadley, Tony Grider. City Clerk Sonya Roy. City Attorney Marshall Loy. Assistant City Clerk Sonya Roy. City Police Chief Jason Cross. City Gas Department Superintendent Ronald Cook. City Sanitation Department Superintendent Kenneth Dulin. City Street Department Superintendent Donnie Rowe. City Events Planner Rhonda Loy. This story was posted on 2011-01-04 05:52:09
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