GARFIELD -- The September City Council meeting was chaired by the newest council member. Terry Warren was appointed to the council last month to fill the vacancy left by Malania Carter's resignation in April.
Mayor Gary Blackburn was out of town. City clerk Teresa Vining has been off work since July due to illness. Blackburn said he asked Warren to chair the meeting since he is the only council member who is not contested in reelection.
The meeting began with a short public hearing. The mayor previously said he notified the public about the meeting, but did not give the property owner 30 days notice of the meeting so the public hearing will be held again in October. The hearing is to consider placing a lien on property on North Wimpy Jones cleaned by the city and owned by Judith Champion of Texas. Council members requested an itemized statement detailing costs associated with the clean up. Only one council member attended a public hearing held in August.
City resident Billy Hamilton presented a city ordinance concerning water meters and questioned both his bill and the procedure of adding a water meter. After extensive discussion, it was agreed that a "plumbing expert" should be present at the October meeting and the questions revisited.
During the discussion, Eddie Cooper of Benton-Washington County Water said: "What the city is doing is illegal." He said "downstream" water meters are prohibited by the state plumbing code.
It was agreed to table the discussion of water meters until the mayor could research the legal issues.
City code inspector Zannie Morrison asked about Resolution 107 that requires publication of information saying he heard that the council voted "not to pay to have a web site."
Watkins said the council declined to pay for a subcontractor to set up the web site but authorized the mayor to do so and that he had "shifted the job over to our then treasurer."
"I talked with the mayor after last month and said I'd help," Paul Bryant, resident, said. "It's my understanding that Teresa resigned and isn't coming back; that's from the mayor... he said she contacted him and had resigned."
Aldermen agreed the mayor should hire help to take care of the city clerk's work, which includes the water clerk duties.
Later in the meeting, Bryant said he had called Vining's residence and was told she had not resigned.
In other business, the council:
• Approved a resolution accepting the hazard mitigation plan presented by the county which will allow the city to receive FEMA funds in the event of a disaster;
• Approved annexation request;
• Tabled an ordinance prohibiting animal access within City Hall;
• Approved two sign permits; and
• Agreed the mayor has the authority to purchase a copier and that the funds are in the budget.
The meeting adjourned at 8:50 p.m. The next City Council meeting is set for Tuesday, Oct. 11.
General News on 09/28/2016