City Council - Regular Meeting

Let me add a little bit. I've been quiet on this. I guess I would say I agree with what you're saying, Debbie, in spirit. If we were a private company, it would be a lot more flexible because then the guy would get the certification, and you're like, boom, got the raise. So how are we planning this? And I'm just hearing what Rob said. If we have a couple folks that are getting certified, we're going to make them wait a year to get a raise? I'm just kind of at, or you know what I mean? Like, where's the mechanics to make the success on both sides?

I'd like to ask a question. I mentioned this to Rob last week. I haven't gotten my figure. But, for example... There are some directors here that we, the city of Mount Pleasant, have been sending to school. I mean, so we're sending them to school for their qualifications. And that's a benefit. That's a huge benefit. So I'd wanted to know how much we were sending. I mean, that's, you know, a lot of people, a lot of us have gone to jobs where you get a lot of on-the-job training. And for the city of Mount Pleasant to believe in our directors, so much that we're paying for them to get this qualif

Well, there also could be another situation where we might end up at a loss if we make some choices.

And I was going to say, I don't have an issue with that one. That's what we're trying to answer right now. Yeah, that is.

Well, I'd like to, I'm going to ask a question on this. In this budget that we're talking about right now, and we've gone through the workshops, the salaries were included, the raises were included. Absolutely. They were not pulled out. So that we were not sitting there saying, oh, okay, this is what the department can run on, and this is the raise.

Or as far as just giving them like a certificate stipend, kind of like what I was asking about before, like if they get this thing in the middle of the year, they get a thing. Is that kind of what you're saying?

One thing that I did, and I think it was Candace that sent it to us, we kind of got a resume on each one of the directors. with their experience, their education, what they're doing. But I also went to the TML website and wrote down or had it sent to me what the qualifications, like if we were going to go out and interview for these positions, these were the suggested qualifications. There are some that we have within our organization that's done it. Check. They're great. And then there are some that are working toward it. So, you know, I think that's part of what we, what I'm learning that th

So, Lee, I don't know what it's called. Is there a way? Are you still there, Lee? Is there a way, and I know you can't call it a bonus, is there a certain term that you can give people for certain, I'm going to call it bonus, because that's what the private sector calls it. Debbie mentioned stipend. Whatever the word is that you could go across the board and give our directors.

We are looking I got a separate question, Rob. City Manager. I know we have two vacant positions right now. Fire Chief and Finance Director. fire chief is blank. Has that been accrued or an estimate put in there for however, because I know we haven't really even started that conversation.

Fair enough. It was blank, so I just wanted to make sure.

Hey, Mayor, one thing that was kind of touched on, and I'm not trying to get off. So, Lee, keep me straight. But we talked about education, right? And we talked about a handful of folks that are about to get some certifications. I mean, I spent pretty much all my life in private sector. The only education that they want to pay, if I'm a project manager, if I wanted to go be an engineer, they're not going to pay for that. But if it impacts the job, right? So I'll just use an example. Utilities. Things change, certificates change, chemicals, you know. Yeah, you're never going to have all the cer

Lee, are we good with this, each one of us having to vote on this?

So do you all want to add the other $42,346.87 to that to our excess? Yes.

Yeah, that's a good point because directors cover both. So that $42,000 would go both. A lot would hit one depending on how it's affected.

You heard what I said earlier, but in the spirit of compromise, I would be okay following at least how the salary study is even though i know there's opinions about it um that's that's that's all we have right now and uh at least bringing folks to the minimum based on that understanding and data that's all i have that seems fair but we need to agree on this tonight one way or the other

So to answer your question, yeah, the 3-3 percenters based on the compromise would be negated. So, yeah, that would be the 2,400, 4,342, and the 3,005.

Yeah, I think I agree. That was part of the proposal initially, right? Right, right. Yeah, so still agreeing.

I'll make a motion to approve MPEDC's FY 2026-27 budget. Pass. Madam Secretary, can we get a vote?

I know you don't like the answer, I got it.

i make a motion hold on i do got a question we ever go over that number and what happened i didn't read the whole contract Is it? It's under 200? Do I what? It's usually under 200, typically.

But, yeah, right now, they're typically under it.

Yeah, I figured. No problem. For the ethos.

make a motion that we accept the animal service agreement with the city.

I'll make a motion to approve Animal Service Agreement with the City of Gilmer.

Awesome. Thanks. Any discussion? Yeah, I got two questions. So it says we have enforcement. So I'm assuming the state license is just like on your car, you have to get a registration. So if food truck doesn't have it permitted, like they don't like it is not valid, right? For whatever reason that in updated or whatever. Do we have authority to control that? Like,

But just tell them to leave. Pardon? But you're saying we can just say, hey, you're expired, you've got to go. Correct. I'm asking because I don't want rogue food trucks everywhere and then knowing he's getting licensed, people start getting sick or something.

Okay. Just making sure because how it was explained wasn't clear to me.

A motion to approve ordinance 2026-19, amending the food truck ordinance to reflect the state law changing as presented by staff.

I mean, pretty low ball, if you ask my opinion. We're owed roughly $4,000 and some change on all of them. We offer $1,000 on each.

And let me correct it. He offered $2,000. That second one was $6,200. So it feels pretty low to me. I mean, I'm getting a quarter of it.

Yeah, I'll make a motion to table this till we can get some representation to discuss this.

More of a procedural thing. I know we kind of glossed over talking about 13. Do we need to make sure we say the same for 14 and 15?

that's what I said table 13 oh whenever you make the motion yeah I don't think I said all three so I just that then would jump so I just want to make sure we're we're all doing it the right way so that was on me I can do one more just to cover the last two yeah motion for item 13 14 Well, we already voted on 13, so I just make a motion to table 14 and 15 until we have proper representation to discuss the matter further.

One more thing. It's real quick. Okay. Don't forget to get on the city website to check out everything going on at the library. I get this every time, and I feel like we don't give it the right amount of attention it deserves. So please check it out if you're looking for something for your kids to do or for yourself. That's it, I promise.

thanks Lee do we have a motion I'll make a motion to approve the city managers increase in salary about $5,000 based on his contract according to his outstanding review of things accomplished in this last 12 months all right madam secretary please yes all right