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City Council meeting, July 2, 2012, Report At the regular July 2, 2012 meeting:
By Ed Waggener Mayor Mark D. Harris announced that city crews will be removing tattered flags among the City's 120 flags purchased over a year ago and are showing signs of excessive wear. In addition, he said that the city will be accepting donations from private businesses, organizations, and citizens to keep the program healthy. The idea was quickly endorsed by City Council members, with Councillor Jim Hadley announcing a personal donation to start it off. Cost last year was $2,800 - and worth it, Hadley said When the 120 flags went up last year, they created great excitement. The public seemed to overwhelmingly approve. And the price, $2,800, seemed a small price to pay, Hadley said, for the honor to veterans. "If it weren't for them," he said, "we wouldn't be here today."Mayor Harris said that the idea had first been presented to him by Ralph Waggener, and that it was a good one. The time table for replacement flags to be in place was not stated, only that the tattered and faded flags would be coming down starting today. One element of the suggestion which Ralph Waggener, publisher of Just for a Smile News and President of South Central Printing, that local businesses be allowed to bid for the opportunity to supply the flags - an issue he has been as adamant about as any - was not taken up at the meeting. Rhonda Loy, who was in charge of the purchases last year, cited only Carrot Top Industries as a source, but that may be changed as the program proceeds. That issue is a real sore spot with many businesses, who say that the City is often oblivious to the needs of local residents. Cases have occurred, in the past, when the City purchased supplies from out-of-town vendors without asking local vendors, and the only work the local businesses got was to take the work on a sub-let, discounted basis from the selling firm! The work would actually be done in Columbia, after all, and the actual producers would have to keep quiet for fear of ticking off the out-of-town business! Mayor Harris may be changing that. Tommy Steele re-appointed to Parks & Recreation Board Tommy Steele, was re-appointed to the Columbia/Adair County Parks & Recreation Board. Steele was recommended by the parks board itself, and Mayor Harris recommended city approval, which came, unanimously, with accolades for the work the young Columbia businessman has done for parks. The term will be through March 1, 2013. However, Councillor Craig Dean said that Steele has indicated he will want to leave the board as soon as a suitable replacement can be found. Dean said Steele cited a need to devote more time to his business and family. Councillors Tony Grider and Robert Flowers also acknowledged the impact Steele has had helping the fledgling Parks & Recreation system launch. Alan W. Reed resigns from Columbia/Adair County Airport Mayor Harris, told the board of the need for a new member of the Columbia/Adair County Airport Board. "I'm not planning to make the appointment tonight," he said, "but I did want you to be aware, ahead of time in order to be thinking about it."Mr. Reed, who took over the first of July 2012 as Superintendent of the Adair County School system, and a long time advocate for the airport, is resigning in order to give, Mayor Harris said, "110% of his time to the schools. Clayton Hadley asks help from police and for occupancy certification Clayton Hadley, owner of the Columbia Ice House, 845 Jamestown Street, Columbia, KY, appeared before the City Council to request help with his request for a Certificate of Occupancy, from Building Inspector Carly Fudge. Mayor Harris agreed to look into the matter, as well as other concerns related to the new business.Hadley asked for help with vandalism, which has included damage to a $700 canopy, and for the city to increase efforts to stop litter on the lot. Mayor Harris said that he recognized the problem, and that the situation had become so bad that city workers had, on occasion, cleaned the area around the ice house. Hadley suggested that the city might provide a clean up service with its new sweeper truck, and suggested that local businesses might be willing to pay for the service. Mayor Harris was cool to that idea, saying that if the city were to do that, it might have so much private for pay requests that it couldn't get its own work done. City routinely approves minutes except for special meeting, June 21, 2012 The council routinely approved, in separate unanimously voice votes, the minutes of the June 4, 2012, regular meeting, and special called meetings June 11, June 14, and June 21, 2012, with one modification for the last meeting. Councillor Robert Flowers asked that it be noted in the budget that, although the budget anticipated a large deficit in the general fund, when all funds were taken in aggregate, the shortfall would be only slightly over $21,000. That was approved. Councillor Flowers noted that the council will continue to work to narrow it throughout the year, citing particularly the possibility of increased Gas Department revenues as requested expansion needs are met. Councillor Parson asks, gets approval for Renaissance Columbia debt to city On a motion by Councillor June Parson, seconded by Councillor Craig Dean, the city voted to forgive the Renaissance Columbia group for its part of the debt growing out of the Diamond Rio Concert. The Council unanimously approved. Parson also pledged $200 of her own money to help Renaissance Columbia stage a free concert during Downtown Days, and challenged other Council Members to do so, too. Search for new auditor continues The search for a new firm to audit the City's books continues, Mayor Harris said. The city is still awaiting overdue audits from its current firm, but, the Mayor said, much of that delay is due to the merger of the utilities department, he said. In other council news: Councillor Tony Grider reported on activity in the C/AC Parks and Recreation Board. He said the softball field has many visible changes, that the board is hopeful on receiving grants for playground equipment, and that activity at the Jim Blair Park has been increasing so much that Parks and Rec is concerned with the possibility of needing more parking to handle the attendance. He also issued a challenge - it was a night for issuing challenges - that every council member buy a duck for the Parks & Rec's annual fund raising duck race. Grider said that Tommy Steele is an excellent job organizing the Parks & Recreation Golf Tournament for this year. Councillor Craig Dean said that use of the walking track at Jim Blair is really good. "We've had up to 25-30 on the track at one time," he said. Councillor Robert Flowers said that the City Gas Department is looking at ways to finance expansion to areas requesting natural gas. Financing for the projects is complex, he said, but said that with interest rates the lowest ever, it's a good time for the expansion to happen. "And," he said, "it helps that we have no debt." Flowers said that will be a great help. One potential customer is a large, as yet unnamed business located a few miles from the city limits. Councillor Linda Waggener voiced enthusiasm for the plan to let private sources pay for new flags, noting that the opportunity for her, to buy flags for Columbia in honor of the veterans in her families, would be a privilege, one other families would also emulate. Good attendance at the meeting Although City Clerk Sonya Roy was unable to attend last night's meeting - her responsibilities were handled by Assistant City Clerk Rhonda Loy - the meeting was well attended, with Mayor Harris presiding, all six councillors present, along with City Attorney Marshall Loy, City Police Chief Jason Cross, City Gas Superintendent Ron Cook, City Zoning Commissioner Roy Rademacher, Columbia Businessman Clayton Hadley, Jr., and members of the media. End of Report, Regular Meeting, July 2, 2012 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 Robert Flowers, Linda Waggener, Jim Hadley, Craig Dean, June Parson, Tony Grider. City Clerk Sonya Roy. City Attorney Marshall Loy. 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 and Assistant City Clerk Rhonda Loy. This story was posted on 2012-07-03 06:46:08
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