Christian Peterson
reporter.riverbendnews@gmail.com
On Thursday, March 20, the Jasper City Council met for its regularly scheduled meeting. The meeting began with the approval of the agenda, followed by a call for public comment, to which there was no response. The board then moved on to its one ceremonial item: the swearing-in of new Jasper Police Officer Tyler Johnson-Jones. After this, the board moved on to its section for “persons to appear.”
Befaithful Coker stood up to present the council with a proclamation for National Student Leadership Week. She explained how students from multiple counties work hard up to the week, acting as ambassadors for their schools and meeting local leaders. This all culminates in a banquet where the students are rewarded for their hard work. The council readily approved the proclamation, then called for City Attorney Rhett Bullard's items: the second readings of two ordinances, one for the town's new procurement procedure and one for fire prevention. The board chose to table the procurement procedure until the next meeting. However, the council did approve the second ordinance regarding fire code prevention.
The council then moved to City Manager Mark Meyers's items. First, he told the council that the North Central Florida Regional Planning Council meeting had happened the previous month, and it had gone well for Jasper. He also asked the council for permission to host an improvement workshop on Thursday, May 8 at 5:30 p.m. He then told the council members that their new emails were up and running. Meyers ended by announcing two recurring donations from the town: $500 to the Hamilton County Alcohol and Drug Prevention coalition and a $350 donation to the Hamilton County Rodeo.
The meeting continued with the director's reports. First, the council was told that there was $6 million in the bank accounts, and the city was in the middle of an audit. From utilities, the council was told that the sewer plant sand filters were looking rough, and there was someone coming to take a look at them. However, it was likely they would need a replacement. Public works showed the board that there was a new sign painted for the town and that they were looking for somewhere to put it up. The council was also told that mowing would be starting soon. After a brief update from the fire and police departments, the board moved into new business.
The first item was the city's International Institute of Municipal Clerks (IIMC) renewal fees. City Clerk Loretta Taylor explained that this was an organization that allowed her to attend webinars and conferences for city clerks. The discussion then turned to the previously discussed issue regarding Taylor's paid time off. Bullard explained that Taylor was contractually obligated to work 40 hours a week, so the council using her paid-time-off (PTO) when she was missing, allowed her to fulfill her contractual obligation. Bullard explained that the alternative was opening herself to termination. The council chose to take no action on the IIMC fees or the PTO time.
After Jennifer Gissoni and Jhelicia Hawkins gave brief thank-yous for community events and a trip to the Washington D.C. League of Cities meeting, the meeting was adjourned. The next Jasper City Council meeting will be held on Thursday, April 17, at Jasper City Hall, located at 208 Hatley St. W.