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CITY OF TOWNSEND COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES On December 15th, 2009 |
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Attend: Attending the meeting was Mayor Pat Jenkins, Vice Mayor Ron Palewski, Commissioner Shannon Skidmore, Commissioner David Wietlisbach, Commissioner Charles Tippitt, Police Chief Ron Suttles, Fire Chief Don Stallions, Recorder Shelia Moss, Jackie Suttles, Mary Ann Ashworth, and Jeff Dockery. Pledge: Mayor Jenkins opened the meeting with the Pledge of Allegiance at 7:00pm. Minutes: Commissioner Wietlisbach made a motion to approve the minutes for the November 17, 2009 meeting. Vice Mayor Palewski seconded and the motion passed with 5 yea votes. Finance Report: Recorder Moss informed the Commission that the City is currently earning .77% interest on the funds at BankEast. She instructed them that with their approval, the funds could be changed from the current 7 day CD to a Business Savings which would earn 1.45%. Mayor Jenkins made a motion to approve changing the account to a business savings earning 1.45% interest. Commissioner Skidmore seconded and the motion passed with 5 yea votes. Recorder Moss then gave the finance report for November. Commissioner Skidmore made a motion to approve the finance report. Commissioner Tippitt seconded and the motion passed with 5 yea votes. Police Report: Chief Suttles reported that at the first of the year the department will need tires and uniform pieces. He also reported that they have a 99 Chrysler mini van (seizure), which will be for sale soon. Chief Suttles mentioned that he wanted to thank everyone for the parade and that he had received lots of good comments. Maintenance: Chief Suttles reported that Glen McCampbell, City Maintenance, was busy with fallen trees. He also reported that a gentleman completing his community service was cleaning and weed eating the City's property. Chief Suttles mentioned that the City Equipment was in good shape. Fire: Chief Stallions reported that everything is going well. He mentioned that they would be having their public hearing on Friday and should know something by mid January on the loan. Chief Stallions mentioned how well everyone worked together at the parade. He reported that they had responded to two chimney fires. Chief Stallions stated that the Fire Department appreciates the City's support. Recreation: Commissioner Wietlisbach reported that the field where the parade was originally scheduled to line up in had gotten very muddy. He reported that everyone got a plan together to line up at the Post Office. Commissioner Wietlisbach reported that the parade was two miles long with two miles of participants. He also listed the prize winners. Commissioner Wietlisbach mentioned that the Knoxville Military Club provided the military vehicles. Mayor Jenkins thanked Commissioner Wietlisbach for putting the parade together. Library: Commissioner Tippitt read the Library report. Highlights of the report included the number of patrons being 2,166, patron use of computers was 655, listing of after school program dates, and a listing of received donations. Old Business 1. Lease Agreement, Property at 133 Tiger Dr: Mayor Jenkins explained the situation regarding the lease between the City and the Blount County School Board. He reported that the County had provided a proposed lease and that he sent a copy to the City's Attorney for review. Mayor Jenkins reported that the City Attorney requested some minor adjustments. Commissioner Wietlisbach mentioned that the first thing that struck him was the lease calling for re-negotiation after ten years. Commissioner Skidmore commented on the lease stating no one can use the facility without prior approval from the Blount County School Board. Commissioner Skidmore also mentioned that he believes we need a plan for a building and that the City needs outside help such as a financial advisor. He also mentioned that the Commission talked about building eight years ago and are still in the same place. Chief Stallions proposed appointing an executive committee to deal with this lease. There was a brief discussion regarding the lease and building a building. Vice Mayor Palewski made a motion to empower Commissioner Skidmore to hire a Financial Advisor. Commissioner Wietlisbach seconded and the motion passed with 4 yea votes. Commissioner Skidmore abstained. Commissioner Skidmore mentioned that the way the lease reads the City would not be a permanent fixture and the attitude was not the same as in 1978. Chief Stallions mentioned that with the budget crunches the County was facing they did not want to be tied down. Commissioner Skidmore requested that the proposed lease be amended to set parameters of ten years with a ten year option. A motion to empower the Mayor to negotiate the lease with the Blount County School Board, including requesting the amendments mentioned by Commissioner Skidmore and the City Attorney, and execute the lease was made by Vice Mayor Palewski. Commissioner Tippitt seconded and the motion passed with 5 yea votes. New Business 1. Public Hearing and First Reading; Ordinance 247-09-1C, Rezoning of Parcel 189, Tax Map 96: Mayor Jenkins read the Ordinance in its entirety aloud. He then explained the parcel is between R1E and B1 and that the owner is having a financing issue due to Residential being in B1. Commisioner Skidmore asked why the front of the parcel was not left B1 in the Ordinance. Mayor Jenkins mentioned that there was no discussion at the Planning Commission meeting about this rezoning request. Commissioner Skidmore stated that it is a non conforming use in B1 and that he had no problem with financing. He also mentioned that his property (located near this parcel) would be devalued if this rezoning was approved. There was a brief discussion regarding this parcel. Mayor Jenkins opened the public hearing at 7:59pm. Mr. Jeff Dockery asked if all the property on 321 was zoned B1. Mayor Jenkins stated that the goal was to have all property on 321 zoned B1. Mr. Dockery mentioned that he is renting the Walker place and working on negotiating a price but couldn't decide what was commercial and that the price was a commercial price for a residential use. Mayor Jenkins instructed him to look at the ordinance where the property was rezoned. There being no further public comment, the public hearing was closed at 8:05pm. There was a brief discussion regarding zoning. Commissioner Wietlisbach made a motion to return this proposed ordinance back to Planning for a correction to leave the front portion B1. Commissioner Tippitt seconded and the motion passed with 5 yea votes. 2. Other Business: Mayor Jenkins asked what was needed for the election scheduled for 2010. Recorder Moss responded by stating that we need and election call resolution and that anyone wishing to run needs to pick up a petition from the Election Board beginning on January 4, 2010. She also mentioned that petitions are due back by April. Recorder Moss asked the Commission whether or not they wanted to renew the line of credit with Citizens Bank. Mayor Jenkins made a motion to let the line of credit expire. Commissioner Skidmore seconded and the motion passed with 5 yea votes. Mr. Dockery thanked the City for helping with the lights for the Halloween function at the Church of God. Commissioner Skidmore mentioned that he wants to change the Commissioners monthly fee and requested that Recorder Moss check on how to accomplish this change and obtain a comparison to other Cities. There being no further business the meeting was adjourned at 7:54 pm Respectfully Submitted by: Shelia Moss |
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