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Columbia Council meeting 7 Dec 2015: Brief - but important issues raised In a 30 minute meeting December 7, 2015 the Columbia City Council, with all councilmembers present, addressed the following items a somewhat controversial panhandling ordinace, heard news from Mayor Hardwick of the possibility of a 15-20 job plant relocation to Columbia, consideration of tax moratorium, a revelation of the restrictions on selling city land in the fairground, and Council representative on Parks & Recreation instructed to get P & R feedback on a memorial to the late Jim Blair By Ed Waggener The Monday, December 7, 2015 meeting of the Columbia City Council, was short, but several major items, not in order of importance, below were discussed with Mayor Curtis Hardwick presiding and all council members present. Panhandling Ordinance: The council heard the first reading of ordinance number 440.2, an ordinance prohibiting panhandling on or near public streets or on private property without written permission. Discussion centered around the need to manage problem panhandling while still allowing innocent fundraising activities by organizations. Councilmember Waggener questioned the idea of fining people who are already destitute and crowding prisons by arresting people who are only trying to get help. Councilman Charles Grimsley had researched the panhandling agenda item and found that many cities are tackling this same challenge. He shared that the City of Louisville has an ordinance against "menacing" panhandling which guards against use of fear, intimidation and disorder. He recommended that the wording be edited to be much more clear before a vote is taken on it. Mayor Hardwick said the penalties definitely needed to be changed and asked that Councilmembers Dean and Waggener meet with him on revised wording before the next Council meeting. Mayor Curtis Hardwick said, in the Mayor's Comments, that the possibility of a plant relocation to Adair County came up at a meeting today with the potential to bring 15 to 20 jobs. Mayor Hardwick asked the Council to review what the city has offered in the past when plants locate in the city limits. The most recent was the five-year tax moratorium given to the new hotel being built in the Walmart center. Councilman Rogers made the motion to offer the five years with no taxes should the plant locate in the city and Councilman Grimsley seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous. The Mayor says City's acreage in the Fairgrounds can't be sold, but can be traded for equal space He said that a response has been received from the Secretary of the Interior, the department that had to grant permission to sell the acre of land within the Veteran's park as part of its potential sale. The answer, he said, was 'no, the property cannot be sold.' He said it can, however, be traded for equal space elsewhere. That word was communicated to Mark Coleman at Lindsey Wilson College for negotiations in progress. County wants help with 911 Center; matter will be discussed - Mayor Hardwick said he had been approached by the county with a request for the city to begin helping the county with the costs of the 911 dispatch center. Discussion on this item: Mayor Hardwick said that the city pays entire cost of $40,000 for school safety officer for Adair County's schools. Councilman Ron Rogers said, "I think we need to study the numbers and see what all is involved, we need to help but there needs to be help on both sides. Councilman Mark D. Harris, thought Adair County Fiscal court might need to be reminded of the extra burden carried by the taxpayers of the City of Columbia, saying, "The County is taking in quite a bit and does better than city residents, who feel like they pay county taxes plus phone and cell phone taxes to the county for 911. When Mayor Bell got the grant to build city hall, the 911 was to go into this city building, but the county redirected it. The city has extended a hand to help and offered to take 911 into the city completely but nothing was worked out." Mayor Hardwick cited some statistics: "I went to the Adair County PVA for statistics -- the city is roughly 22% of population of Adair County and the city pays 28% of the tax. People forget that city residents pay county taxes." Councilman Craig Dean thought the idea of the City taking over 911 might be a solution. "We should study offering to take 911 over completely; I'm not interested in sharing it at this time, but we could table it and study it later. Chief Jason Cross remarked: "City residents pay three taxes to county residents two." A motion was made by Councilman Rogers to review the costs and contributions with the county and it was seconded by Councilman Lasley. The vote was unanimous. Citizens' comments: Mr. Bill Anderson came before the council in citizens comment time to make a second request for a memorial to the late Jim Blair and the gifts he has contributed to help City of Columbia. Mayor Hardwick asked councilmember/Parks and Recreation boardmember Linda Waggener to bring this request up at the next meeting and bring the P&R board's response back to the Council at the January meeting. Council announcements: Craig Dean: "I hope everybody has a Merry Christmas and a really good holiday!" Linda Waggener: "I'd echo Craig's wishes for everyone to have a Merry Christmas, and I want to make sure we end on a positive note toward working together. I do not like the we-they approach that our city and county sometimes get into. I'd like us to think about creating a committee to meet and go over the taxes and contributions of both city and county and see who is actually paying what. I think we should keep both areas of jobs/management for city and county, but I believe it is time to look at a possible merger of city/county budgets." Craig Lasley: "The only thing I have to add tonight is to wish everyone a Merry Christmas!" Ron Rogers: "I'd like to thank those who helped with the wreaths on poles in town, Lindsey Wilson helped with their truck, and I congratulate the Columbia Adair County Chamber of Commerce for the really good parade Saturday night, and wish everyone a Merry Christmas and Feliz Navidad." Charles Grimsley: "I'd like to express my appreciation to the Chamber on the successful parade and especially for honoring the Veterans. I also think we need to look at the fees that could come from a possible wet vote and see how it affects both 911 and the jail. We need to work through some way to help with this." Mark D. Harris: "I'd like to thank all who made it a special Christmas in Columbia celebration, and whoever ordered that weather should be commended. Remember we have workers here on duty over Christmas and we need to think about them." Mayor Hardwick also wished everyone a Merry Christmas and called for a motion to adjourn. Motion was made by Councilmember Waggener. Adjournment was at 6:30pmCT. Those present included Mayor Curtis Hardwick, Council Members Craig Dean, Linda Waggener, Craig Lasley, Dr. Ron Rogers, Charles Grimsley, an Mark Harris; City Clerk Rhonda Loy, City Attorney Marshall Loy; Chief Jason Cross, Gas Superintendent Ronald Cook, P & R Board member Roy Rademacher, Citizen Bill Anderson, and Members of the Media. This story was posted on 2015-12-08 08:48:34
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