City Council - Regular Meeting

Thank you, Madam Mayor. Good evening, everyone. We're glad you're here this evening. There are no additions or deletions to the agenda, Madam Mayor, so I make a motion that be accepted as it was printed.

I will be reading. This will be given to all five of them. Thank you. excuse me, whereas the United States Constitution secures the blessings of liberty and justice for all Americans, and whereas September 17th marks the 239th anniversary of the drafting of the Constitution by the Constitutional Convention, and whereas it is fitting and proper to accord official recognition to this magnificent document and its memorable anniversary and to the patriotic celebrations which will commemorate it. And whereas learning about the principles of the Constitution allows us to reflect on the rights and th

I don't know that it says. Does it say? Does it say?

I've got a question. Years ago, y'all gave these little Constitution books. A little book. A little book. Was that you, Robin? This is what I got. That's what I have. No, they've got the little book.

You're the ones that should be in front. Yeah, Mark, you get in front.

Madam Mayor, I see Teresa Callahan out there. Last time you were here, Teresa, you had an issue I didn't quite understand. Okay. All right. Just wanted to make sure.

Just to give you a little bit more detail, the only thing that we work with with the Housing Authority is the appointee of board members. But other than that, all the decisions that take place is through the Housing Authority, and you're sitting with the chair of the committee right now, okay? Thank you.

Yes, madam mayor of the motion. To adopt this on first reading of this ordinance.

Madam mayor. Excuse me, I have just one. thing that kind of stuck out to me is that there's currently six parking spaces with the property and they're asking for eight out of our parking garage i'm perfectly okay with giving them six but this is more than what they have now so for me that's a little bit of an issue

I thought it was what says here. They currently have 8 or 6 and they're asking for 8 reserve parking spaces in the garage.

I don't know. I mean, I'm okay with it, but I think if we give them what they have, they're not losing anything. Maybe I'm misinterpreting it. I don't know how my colleagues.

My recommendation is that we approve the aid if there is a change, we could alter that at our second reading on this. I'll go along with that.

Thank you. Madam Mayor, my concern or question along with the six to eight was making sure that the other business, the Antique Mall and the Center for the Arts has access if they're closing B Lane. That was my concern. Could we address that or just have some further information?

Right. No, I understood that. I'm just, when we're closing B Lane, I know that the Center for the Arts uses that B Lane a lot, and I'm just concerned for the other businesses as we're discussing it. I know Stuart has discussed it. I just was trying to get that information.

Well, we've been in a number of meetings with Malia, And the parking that they have right now, they own that space. Now, do they own parking in the back as well, the other space?

I just know that there's the contemplation of closing B Lane, and that was just, this as to Malia's, the Kelker, I'm okay with a six at least right now, and I'm for this motion, but I'm also asking for public understanding as we're looking at it, can we address, with the closing of B Lane, are we affecting what other businesses are being affected in access?

tonight, but continue it. And address that. That's what I was at the second reading. Exactly. Thank you.

Oh, I'm sorry. Go ahead and go. I'm totally in support of this. Anything that helps protect our officers, which this will do and gives them expediency at a scene that needs immediate attention. And I also want to brag. I didn't speak before on our public safety. And I should have said this before your command staff left. You all do an exceptional job of keeping us safe and put your lives on the line every day. Chief, thank you. And please let all of your officers know that we appreciate them very, very much.

Thank you. I'd like to add to that not only Do they keep us safe? But they're so good about volunteering and participating in community activities and programs. And I don't know what we would do without you. When we have our events at Rural Health Services, they provided the spray truck, all kinds of trainings to... our staff and employees over the years. And even when we had the food giveaways, I know that was a big headache because we had traffic backed up in four different directions. And some people wasn't that nice, but they always show up and make sure that everything gets done properly.

Madam mayor Mike question is this pathway will cross over some of the major roads going in do we have a report or what is good the signs and the protection for the pedestrians as they're walking across. It's kind of like Odell Weeks. When we turn in, you know, they have to stop. My concern is it looks like there are different places that the traffic is going to be coming through and what are our procedures or protection for those. Since it's a public walkway and we want to encourage public participation.

I hope so, yes, I think so. I just drove by and was concerned before that there weren't a lot of notice for the drivers going in.

Because I just know how difficult it is sometimes with Odell Weeks coming in and out, people making sure they see the walkers, and knowing that we want to encourage public people, the public use of this track. So, I'd be glad to. Thanks, Thomas. Sure.

Councilman Diggs made the motion and I'll second man a mayor a second from Councilman role.

I think isn't there already is excuse me isn't there already a kind of a covering near where the amphitheater is yeah, I noticed when I go by there so finished. That'll be another venue that can be used, which will be great.

Oh, I'm sorry. I'm supportive of this. I'm concerned about our staff, Parks and Rec. I'm concerned about what Thomas does and his staff. And we don't seem to be discussing what's taking place with our staff. and the hours that those employees spend if you're using the current staff load, and their wages as well. So those are my greatest concerns. I support this, but I am getting some concerns from the public as well.

thank you jessica very good enough is enough good good question yeah good question i and mayor if i may i agree with the councilwoman price it seemed like we just are always giving parks and rec more and more and more to do but i'm so happy to hear that that's going to be subbed down and not another thing added to their list of to-do's very good um so uh on that all those in favor

I thank Lex for clarifying that for me as well.

Can I make a comment regarding that? The key here with Malia's is where the parking takes place with her residence and the staff, she owns that space. I don't know about the others that you're addressing, if they're parking back there, whether they own that space, but that has been the meeting that we've had regarding her potential owners, in addition to some of the real estate folks as well. So that is what we will cover at our next meeting at the second reading.

That's been brought up several times. We have not overlooked your location and others that may need deliveries, and there's been several discussions in terms of options for those deliveries. So that's not been overlooked at all. Super. Thank you for mentioning it.

give up on us but well let me just say Teresa's in my district and there are a number of things that have that they've requested not much has been done I am being asked how much budget money that we have has been spent in various areas of the northeast and northwest side of town. Where is the investment? She's requested for two years on Hampton and Lawrence Street some sort of marker so that will stop the traffic concern and accidents occurring. So it's those kinds of things that It's mentioned in these meetings. It's mentioned to several of us, and not much happens.

And that's when hope disappears. That's when people are very disappointed that they're not seeing the same things, the same things that they're asking for. It's being done in other parts of the municipality, but not in those areas that are low income, that feel abandoned. And... feel like nobody's really concerned.

But I will tell you on a positive note, and people are not, oftentimes you see the negative and not the positive. Growth is taking place in terms of housing and so forth on the northeast and the northwest side of town. It's not totally lost, but the maintenance that you're concerned about in terms of the appearance, I'm getting concerned about how Richland Avenue looks, both on the east side and west side, if you're coming from Augusta, how that appearance looks, how it looks on the east side if you're coming from Augusta. I whatever these places are, but they're looking at northeast and north

Well, you mentioned that at our last meeting and you've mentioned you've been talking about this now for about a year and a half, two years. But this was also mentioned many years prior to your coming into your status right now with senior citizens. And we talked about roundabouts. Those roundabouts never took place. And you mentioned the arrows that would give better and ease at folks making left turns, right turns, and then going left. from south to north.

Thank you. So please tell the folks they're not forgotten. It just takes a little while. And sometimes it's longer than we expect, but it's in the pipeline. And we get the reputation that we're not doing anything on the north side or the east side or the west side.

Before we adjourn, Teresa, were you all concerned about the sewer project? Is that what you, you want to mention that to them?