REGULAR MEETING

         7/02/07                                              

THE GRAND JUNCTION BOARD OF MAYOR AND ALDERMEN MET ON 7/02/2007. PRESENT WERE MAYOR CURTIS LANE,  ALDERMEN JOHN BARRY, FRANK BELL, NICK EDWARDS, PERRY LANE, CHERYL SMITH, AND JERRY SMITH.  AFTER THE ROLL CALL AND PRAYER, THE MEETING WAS CALLED TO ORDER.  MINUTES OF THE JUNE MEETING WERE READ AND APPROVED. BILLS PAYABLE WERE APPROVED ON A MOTION MADE BY JERRY SMITH AND SECONDED BY FRANK BELL.

DEPARTMENT REPORTS:

WATER/SEWER:

FRANKLIN STANFORD – WATER LINE EXTENSION TO THE NEW BANK IS COMPLETED. EVERYTHING ELSE IS ROUTINE.

POLICE:

MAYOR LANE – THERE WAS A CAR SHOW AND BLOCK PARTY ON JULY 1.  OFFICER COLLETT WAS RESPONDING TO A CALL FOR ASSISTANCE FROM HARDEMAN COUNTY OFFICERS WHEN HE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT.  COLLETT WAS NOT SERIOUSLY INJURED, BUT THE PATROL CAR WAS TOTALED.  STATE TROOPERS ARE INVESTIGATING.

TERRY MATHEWS – GAVE THE MONTH’S STATISTICS AND ANSWERED QUESTIONS ABOUT THE ACCIDENT.

ALDERMEN’S REPORTS:

BARRY, EDWARDS, CHERYL SMITH, BELL – ROUTINE

MAYOR LANE ASKED DR. EDWARDS TO CHECK N. TIPPAH ST. FOR CODE VIOLATIONS.

PERRY LANE – EXPRESSED HIS DISAPPOINTMENT WITH THE JUNE MEETING, SPECIFICALLY THE AMOUNT OF HATRED AND MALICE EXPRESSED.  CRITICISM THAT IS NOT CONSTRUCTIVE DOES NOT BELONG IN A BOARD MEETING.  ONCE AGAIN HE REJECTED MONROE WOOD’S CONTENTION ABOUT WHERE HE GOT HIS INFORMATION AND DISAGREED WITH WOOD’S CONCLUSION THAT THE BOARD SHOULD HAVE REPRIMANDED RAY SMITH FOR HIS ALLEGED USE OF A RACIAL SLUR.  PERRY ALSO CRITICIZED BULLETIN-TIMES REPORTER ROY HORNSBY FOR HIS FRONT PAGE ARTICLE CONCERNING THE MEETING.

FIRE DEPT:

MIKE BRYAN –REPORTED THREE FIRES.  HE IS STILL CHECKING ON THE DOOR FOR THE FIRE STATION. HE HAS BOUGHT A TV AND RECORDER FOR THE FIRE DEPT. ROOM UPSTAIRS.

PERRY LANE MOVED TO PASS A RESOLUTION GRANTING THE MAYOR THE AUTHORITY TO MAKE CHANGES TO THE EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT ACCOUNTS, SO THAT SOME ACCOUNTS MAY BE CONSOLIDATED. 

BARRY SECONDED.  ALL VOTED AYE ON A ROLL CALL VOTE, AND THE MOTION WAS THUS PASSED.

NEW BUSINESS:

PERRY LANE MOVED TO ADOPT A PROPOSED CURFEW ORDINANCE THAT HAD BEEN ACCEPTED BY OTHER CITIES IN THE COUNTY.  JERRY SMITH SECONDED, AND THE MOTION PASSED THE FIRST READING WITH NO OPPOSITION ON A ROLL CALL VOTE.

JERRY SMITH MOVED TO ACCEPT ON THE FIRST READING A PIT BULL ORDINANCE, BARRY SECONDED, AND ALL VOTED AYE ON A ROLL CALL VOTE.

THE TWO ORDINANCES WILL BE PRESENTED FOR THE SECOND READING AT THE AUGUST MEETING.

MAYOR LANE EXPLAINED THAT THE BIRD DOG FOUNDATION HAD ASKED THE BOARD FOR THEIR APPROVAL TO INSTALL A NEW SIGN ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF THE INTERSECTION OF HIGHWAYS 18 AND 57. IT WAS AGREED THAT THE BOARD WOULD APPROVE THE PLANS BEFORE IT WAS INSTALLED.

MAYOR LANE ASKED THE BOARD MEMBERS TO MEET WITH HIM AND CITY AUDITOR BOB DOLL ON 7/11/07 TO WORK ON THE 07-08 BUDGET. 

CITIZEN CONCERNS:

FRANK CHAMBERS – ASKED THAT THE BOARD CONSULT WITH THE PEOPLE IN TOWN.  THE CITIZENS NEED TO GET MORE INVOLVED. HE BELIEVES THAT THE MAJORITY OF THE COMMUNITY SUPPORTS THE POLICE.

PAM FOSSEE – READ SOME EXCERPTS FROM THE CHARTER.  SHE ACCUSED CHERYL SMITH OF VIOLATING THE CHARTER IN SEVERAL AREAS AND ASKED FOR HER RESIGNATION.

CHERYL SMITH MAINTAINED THAT SHE DID NOT REMEMBER OFFICER MATHEWS GIVING HER A WARNING ON AN EARLIER OCCASION WHEN SHE WAS ALLEGEDLY DRINKING A BEER IN HER CAR. SHE ALSO SAID THAT OTHER PEOPLE HAD ASKED HER TO REMAIN ON THE BOARD. SHE DID NOT PLAN TO RESIGN.

BELL SAID THAT CHERYL HAS ADMITTED TO MAKING A MISTAKE AND HAD APOLOGIZED.  THE CITY NEEDS TO MOVE ON.

PAT REED – SHOWED A PETITION WITH 65 SIGNATURES ASKING THAT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT REMAIN AS IT IS.  THIS WAS IN RESPONSE TO A RUMOR THAT THE BOARD PLANNED TO ELIMINATE THE PART-TIME POSITIONS.  THE MAYOR AND SEVERAL BOARD MEMBERS REJOINED THAT NO DECISION HAD BEEN MADE TO CUT THE POSITIONS, AND THAT THE CITY WOULD MAINTAIN AS FULL A STAFF AS IT COULD AFFORD.  REED INSISTED THAT SHE WILL CONTINUE TO CIRCULATE THE PETITION. 

DORIS GODWIN - SAID THAT MONROE WOODS WAS RIGHT IN HIS CENSURE OF THE BOARD BECAUSE THE OFFENSIVE TERM WAS USED IN CHERYL’S PRESENCE, AND CHERYL IS AN ALDERMAN. 

MAYOR LANE SAID THE CITY ATTORNEY HAD ADVISED HIM TO REMAIN NEUTRAL.  THERE IS STILL THE POSSIBILITY OF SEVERAL LAWSUITS.  THE BOARD HAS GIVEN EVERYONE AN OPPORTUNITY TO EXPRESS THEIR OPINIONS.  THE SUBJECT WILL NOT BE DISCUSSED AGAIN IN A BOARD MEETING. 

THE MEETING WAS ADJOURNED.

MAYOR                                                                                                                                    RECORDER