GARFIELD -- In a lengthy and sometimes animated discussion, City Council members discussed proposed Resolution 128 typed by one of the two newest council members, Susie Morrison. The resolution was ultimately approved.
Prior to the discussion, alderman Katherine Shook questioned discussing the resolution immediately saying it should be under new business as she had not seen it prior to the meeting.
A Good Role Model
By Ryan Wassman
10/28/16
What are the qualities of a good role model. My role model is Mayor Blackburn because he is funny, serious, and helpful.
First of all, the reason why he is funny is because he makes jokes with my dad all the time. Another time he is funny is when he works because laughs sometime with my dad.
Then, the reason why I think he is serious is because when you’re the mayor you have to make your city better. And when you ave a job like being mayor you cannot just quit, you have to bring the people together.
Finally, the last reason why he is helpful is because he helps my dad become aldermen. Also, he makes Garfield a great and the best city ever.
These are the qualities of a good and great role model. And a good role model needs to be funny, serious, and helpful and my role model is Mayor Blackburn.
"First of all, it's the mayor's responsibility to generate the agenda. I really don't know what you're hoping to accomplish. What's your goal?" Blackburn said to Shook.
"To abide by the law ... we need to follow the resolution outlined in 109," Shook said, referring to city statutes regulating meeting procedure.
"I believe the mayor wants it passed first because it limits the time aldermen speak to three minutes ... it's basically a gag order," Shook told other council members, adding that she believed the budget should be discussed first under old business.
Shook's motion to postpone the resolution until new business failed when it was not seconded.
A previous resolution stated that council meetings end at 9 p.m. The new resolution states meetings must end at 8 p.m. It also restricts discussion on any one topic to 15 minutes. Initially, the resolution stated there could only be three minutes of discussion per council member, but that portion was deleted.
The ordinance required approval of minutes not to be postponed or tabled.
Aldermen discussed how to meet that requirement if changes are made in the minutes.
"When we went to training last week, Mark Hayes actually talked about this," alderman Terry Warren said. "It seems to me that might be too restrictive to say."
Shook said aldermen should be able to read amended minutes before approving them.
Morrison said the minutes do not have to be detailed and should not be put off. "We should have already read them and have a streamlined City Council meeting that can end at 8 o'clock," she said.
"The details I correct are corrected for a reason," Shook said.
"I'm not going to sit through ... I'm not going to do that. Not at my age. I'm not interested in being detail oriented at 71 years of age ... I don't mind putting it off for one meeting," Morrison said.
"When minutes are given to the aldermen in a timely manner," Jim Teeselink, alderman, said, "if we have time to go over them over a week prior to the meeting, then we should be able to make changes and bring them to you?"
Blackburn told aldermen they could read the minutes, make changes and drop them by City Hall.
Shook and Blackburn discussed the financial records and Blackburn said he is preparing those for aldermen two weeks prior to the meetings.
Warren said aldermen should go to City Hall to speak to the mayor with any questions.
"I'm in agreement with Terry Warren. I think nearly everything on the financial statement can be resolved with a phone call or a visit with you or Keeli," Morrison said.
"We need to stipulate that we receive the financial documents ahead of time," Shook said. "Many times I haven't seen them until I arrive at the City Council meeting.
"It's important that questions be answered. I'm hopeful that this coming year is going to be a lot better," Shook said.
The meeting began with Susie Morrison reading "A Good Role Model" at the request of Mayor Gary Blackburn, who said: "We used to start the meetings with something positive. It's important to do that, set the tone for the meeting. In this case, it sets the tone for the year. It's not about me, it's about a fourth-grader at Garfield Elementary School who was assigned to write an essay."
In other business, aldermen:
• Approved Resolution 130 amending the budget for the operation of Garfield for the calendar year 2016 reflecting a total budget of $210,767.
• Approved Resolution 129 adopting the budget for a total expense of $265,400.
• Approved Resolution 131 amending the budget for the operation of the city from Jan. 1-17, 2017.
• Tabled a resolution to appoint an attorney. The mayor recommended hiring Michael Bearden who bought the Slinkard Law firm. Alderman Katherine Shook said she would like to meet and interview him before hiring him.
• Approved a sign permit for Charles W. Pearce, owner of Elkhorn Liquor, which is being constructed at 16727 U.S. Highway 62.
General News on 01/25/2017