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Columbia City Council meeting 4 May 2015 - Report
Click on headline for complete report with photo(s) By Ed Waggener At the brief, 23 minute regular meeting of the Columbia City Council, May 4, 2015, the council approved the second reading of the ordinance defining abandoned urban property, approved Mayor Hardwick's recommendation for an Economic Development Authority member, but delayed action to extend the city lease arrangement with the Adair County Fire Department, delayed action on Mayoral succession and contingency check signing arrangement and line of succession. As well, sessions on budget review and a Town Meeting for discussion of the use of the newly enacted payroll tax were delayed. Abandoned Urban Property tax approved The council heard city Attorney Marshall Loy in the second reading of an abandoned urban property tax ordinance (No. 220.162) which sets a rate of $1/$100 assessment for property meeting certain criteria. Councillor Linda Waggener asked about the process of enforcement would be handled and was assured that there would be due process, respectful of owner rights, starting with visits, then written letters, opportunity for owners to take action first, progressing to enforced city action. Following that, a 6-0 voice vote came on a motion by Councillor Ron Rogers, with a second by Craig Lasley, with Councillors Craig Dean, Linda Waggener, Mark Harris, and Charles Grimsley joining in the the 6-0 voice vote. Randy Burns re-appointed to CACEDA Mayor Hardwick recommended Lindsey Wilson College Alumni Director Randy Burns to be re-appointed on the Columbia/Adair County Economic Development Authority (CACEDA) to a four year term ending in 2019. The motion to approve was by Ron Rogers, seconded by Craig Dean and the vote was unanimous, on a voice vote. Mayor's announcements: Mayor Curtis Hardwick commended the Adair County Garden Club and Donnie Rowe and the Columbia Street Department for completely renovating the flower beds around the Public Square. Bulbs were replaced for the day lillies and the beds were mulched. Councillors' announcements: Councillor Ron Rogers - brought up the matter of succession, citing the recent failure of the city to issue checks in a timely manner because of the uncertainty over the Mayoral election, when, for 10 days, Columbia was without a Mayor following Judge Judy Vance's ruling voiding the November 3, 2014 Mayoral election, until an appeal was filed by the Adair County Board of Elections and Hardwick, at least temporarily, was re-instated. City Attorney Marshall Loy said that the position of "Mayor Pro Tem," is not an official position, not one which would allow the MPT to do more than preside in the Mayor's absence. He said that in a situation such as the most recent one occur, a non-elected official could have been designated to sign checks. That official could have been the City Attorney. Councillor Linda Waggener asked if the matter could be taken up last night, and suggested the City Attorney. Mayor Hardwick said that the designation would be one he would make and the council would approve or not approve. No action was taken. But a special called meeting might be called to address the issue before the next regular meeting, which is scheduled for June 1, 2015. City Clerk Rhonda Loy said that the entire check signing arrangement could be handled within present staff or with an appointed official such as the City Attorney, and noted that the city has not yet adopted an order of succession needed for leadership in times of disaster, but that issue was not addressed. Councillor Linda Waggener - Councillor Waggener called for the city to continue the present lease arrangement with the Adair County Fire Department, referring to the request made at the April meeting by Fire Chief Mike Glasgow. However, that matter was put off until the June meeting. The lease expires June 30, 2015, and Columbia Fire Chief Mike Glasgow had requested an answer to his request for clarification on the lease by May. Councillor Waggener reminded the Council of Chief Glasgow's statement that the City-owned apparatus would be removed from the fire station at the end of June 2015 if a satisfactory lease arrangement is not approved. Mayor Hardwick replied that if the trucks were removed, he would not be the one driving them out of the building. Mayor Hardwick said that the matter will be addressed in the June meeting. Charles Grimsley - Asked for public meetings to discuss how money is spent from the occupational/payroll tax recently enacted. Mayor Hardwick said that how the money is spent is up to the designated groups which will receive the money. Mayor Hardwick told Grimsley that if his group, the Columbia/Adair County Parks and Recreation Board, wanted to hold such a meeting, he would welcome that, but he saw no need for a meeting to discuss how the money is spent. Clerk Rhonda Loy was asked how receipts are coming in, and said that something over $200,000 has been received since the tax became effective on January 1, 2015. She said the amount is about what had been projected. Mr. Grimsley also called for strategy meeting and of the City's Budget, saying that when the budget was approved, a review meeting had been promised quarterly, and that he had expected one to be held by April, 2015. That matter, too, was delayed. Councillors Mark D. Harris, Craig Dean, and Craig Lasley did not offer comments during the Council Comment segment of the meeting. Other action There were no citizen's comments during the brief session, adjourned at 6:23pmCT. Minutes of the April 6, 2015, regular meeting were approved by a voice vote. The meeting had moderate attendance, with Mayor Curtis presiding, all six council members present, City Clerk Rhonda Loy recording the session, and City Attorney Marshall Loy present. Representatives of the media were present. City Police Chief Jason Cross, and City Gas Department Superintendent Ron Cook was present. COLUMBlA CITY COUNCIL holds its regular monthly meeting each first Monday at 6pmCT in City Hall, 116 Campbellsville ST, Columbia, KY. The meetings are open to the public. Mayor Curtis Hardwick. Councillors Councillors Craig Dean, Linda Waggener, Dr. Ron Rogers, Charles Grimsley, Craig Lasley, and Mark Harris. City Clerk Rhonda Loy. City Attorney Marshall Loy. City Police Chief Jason Cross. City Gas Superintendent Ron Cook. City Sanitation Department Superintendent O'Shaughnesy Frazier. City Street Department Superintendent Donnie Rowe. This story was posted on 2015-05-05 03:03:35
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