Regular Council Meeting

 

                              December 19, 2007                           5:00 p.m.

 

PRESENT:  Ken Stewart, Mari Ann Parker, Mike Batchelder, Donna Parish and Tony French (5:03).

 

ALSO PRESENT:  Tressa Baker, Robert Powell, Holly Norris, Ryan Griffin, Randy Snyder, Ted Collins, Scott Sisk, Jeff Riley, Mariah Cunningham, John Lednicky and Bill Butrick.

 

PRESIDING:  Mayor Marty Allen.

 

The meeting was called to order at 5:00 p.m. with a quorum present.

 

Donna Parish moved to approve the minutes of the last Regular Council Meeting held November 7, 2007.  Mike Batchelder 2nd, motion carried unanimously.

 

Mari Ann Parker moved to approve the minutes of the Special Council Meeting held November 14, 2007 for election procedures for 1% sales tax.  Ken Stewart 2nd, motion carried unanimously.

 

Ken Stewart moved to approve the minutes of the Special Council Meeting held November 14, 2007 for adoption of Ordinance #466 for meeting time change.  Mari Ann Parker 2nd, motion carried unanimously.

 

Donna Parish moved to approve the bills for the month of November, 2007.  Ken Stewart 2nd, motion carried unanimously.

 

CITIZENS REQUESTS

 

Mayor Marty Allen stated that Kenny Tilton asked about the blind intersection at N. Ives and Main Street and if the Council would consider removing parking spots for better visibility. After a brief discussion, the Council agreed that all intersections had visibility concerns and no action would be taken at this time. 

 

A concerned citizen questioned the Council about the availability of the Fire Chief during the Ice Storm Crisis.  The citizen suggested that the Fire Chief’s appointment be denied in May when the appointments take place.

 

Scott Sisk asked about FEMA reimbursement for businesses and individuals that had losses from the ice storm.  He stated that he had heard if insurance was denied for these losses, that FEMA would reimburse you.  Mayor Allen informed him that Jeff Riley and Bill Butrick would be attending a meeting tomorrow with other cities and maybe some of these questions could be answered at that time.

 

Robert Powell stated that he would like to have it noted in the minutes that the Mayor did an outstanding job during the Ice Storm Crisis. 

 

COMMITTEE REPORTS

 

City Attorney Ted Collins updated the Council about the law enforcement meeting held with the County.  He stated that several items in the contract were discussed that should help with certain expectations and that the contract would probably be rewritten before July of 2008. 

 

OLD BUSINESS

 

Kenny Stewart reported on the progress of the Community Center/Fire Station.  Mayor Allen complemented all the guys helping with the project.

 

City Attorney Ted Collins informed the Council that probably the most effective way to handle the issue of crops being grown within the city limits would be to pass a specific ordinance. It was agreed that the Law Enforcement Committee would bring back a recommendation to the next regular meeting and all affected parties be notified to allow for their input.

 

City Attorney Ted Collins updated the Council concerning cereal malt beverage license fees and presented an ordinance to the Council that would comply with state regulations.  Ken Stewart moved to approve Ordinance #467, an Ordinance of the City of Highland establishing retailer’s license fees in connection with the sale of cereal malt beverages within the City Of Highland.  Mari Ann Parker 2nd.  By roll call vote: Batchelder – yes, Parker – yes, French – yes, Stewart – yes,

Parish – yes.  Motion carried unanimously.

 

Mike Batchelder moved to approve cereal malt beverage applications from Ernies, Caseys General Store, and Clark’s Convenience Store for 2008.  Donna Parish 2nd.  Motion carried unanimously.

 

Tony French moved to approve Ordinance #468, an Ordinance of the City Of Highland levying a city retailers’ sales tax in the amount of one percent (1%) within the City Of Highland. Mari Ann Parker 2nd.  By roll call vote: Batchelder – yes, Parker – yes, French – yes, Stewart – yes, Parish – yes.  Motion carried unanimously. 

 

GOVERNING BODY COMMENTS

 

Council member Donna Parish stated she was overwhelmed by all the hard work done by the Mayor, city employees, most councilmen, and the many volunteers during the Ice Storm Crisis.  She further stated how proud she was of how the town came together during this time.  Other council members echoed the compliments made by Council member Parish.

 

Council member Tony French complimented the phone messaging system currently used by USD #425 and informed the Council he would volunteer to look into the system for the City. 

 

5:50 p.m. Ken Stewart moved to go into executive session for 40 minutes to discuss personnel and for Ted Collins and Bill Butrick to remain.  Mari Ann Parker 2nd.  Motion carried unanimously. 

 

6:30 p.m. Ken Stewart moved to come out of executive session.  Donna Parish 2nd.  Motion carried unanimously.

 

Donna Parish moved to increase full time employee’s three steps on the salary schedule, to increase Melanie Edie twenty-five cents per hour and to increase the City Attorney the equivalent of three steps.  Tony French 2nd.  Motion carried unanimously. 

 

6:32 p.m.  Ken Stewart moved to adjourn.  Tony French 2nd. Motion carried unanimously. 

 

 

 

__________________________               __________________________

 

                Mayor                                                        City Clerk