Board of Mayor & Aldermen - Regular Meeting

I'd like to welcome everyone to our very 21st 2026. I stand for the pledge and remain standing for moment of silence. I aliance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Let us pray. Eternal and gracious God, we thank you for this moment. We thank you, Lord, and we believe that this is the day that you have made and we're rejoicing and exceedingly glad in it. We thank you Lord for the ability Lord to assemble together for the business of the people. We ask Lord that we would carry out this due diligence that we carry out Lord with concern for our citizens and for our state. Dear Lord again we just thank you Lord. And while we praying Lord we pray for those Lord especially Greg. We we pray for those who lost loved ones. We ask you Lord be kind and be gracious with them as they go through this. We pray for this country. We pray for the leadership. We pray Lord we continue Lord to realize that we live in a great country. We thank you for the freedoms and the abilities that we have Lord to make it great. And God if you want this country this city to be great Lord let it start with us. We thank you for this privilege. We thank you for all your blessings. In your name we pray. Amen.

Amen. First item is item 1.3 approval from the river board of mayor alman held March 17, 2026. We have a motion by vice har. Any questions or comments? If not, let us vote. Anyone care to change their vote? Would you tell the votes please pass?

Item 1.4 public comment period. I believe we have someone Mr. Joe Ro like to speak to us for a moment. Joe, you'll have two minutes. I believe. Thank you. Thank you. I'm speaking tonight. I'm asking for annexation and R15 zoning classification for 3168 Old Cut Road. R15 is larger than the current developments in the city, but I thought this was more in line with the current neighborhoods in the area and a lot of concern was expressed in the first meeting there of the total number of homes and I think it used number about 120 homes total. The property itself is 41 acres total. But there's PVA easement which will lead up about 6 acres. So about 35 acres probably is about the only useful property and probably less than that with the topography with with the way the land lays. And I received a high estimate. I took the time to check with a builder and a surveyor to run LAR and they're saying about 60 to 70 homes max would be what the area would hold for itself. So, uh, I understand the concerns of the infrastructure and the demands. I also hear the retaining the rural and the country feel of the area, but I think it's it's difficult to accomplish both without utilizing the services of the sewer and with the lot sizes of the subdivisions cuz with a county zoning classification about a 60 home development would give about 120 acres based on current DEC requirements for a septic tank. So I just don't feel that's a good use of our utilities and um I just feel that that that this would be utilizing the services there with a growth expected of about 25% by 2035. I'm just asking for the city to only to uh not only approve what has already been planned for in the future

growth plan. I'm a native with a county raised on a farm and I realize the change is hard to adjust to but I trust the planners, the engineers and those with the best interest of the county with the county's growth to adjust and utilize our resources as best as possible. Thank you. You finished right on time. Thank you, Mr. Rose. Moving on to our public hearing. Item 1.5, item one, ordinance 26-08, ordinance receiving Ordinance 25-2 in its entirety and establishing a new schedule of fees and charges for play at the Legacy Golf Course. Is there anyone here to care to speak to this item? Seeing none, we'll move on to item two, ordinance 26-09, an ordinance amending the fiscal year of 2026 annual budget for the city of Springfield by amending certain general fund and utility fund operating budgets. See, anyone here to care to speak to that item? Seeing none, item three, ordinance 26-10, an ordinance amending chapter 13 of the Springfield zoning ordinance pertaining to the appointment of members to board of zoning appeals. Anyone care to speak to that item? Seeing none. Item four, ordinance 26-12, an ordinance reszoning property at 1300 Adrien Drive for medium density residential single family RS10 to high density residential R7. Anyone here to speak to that item? Ordinance number five, ordinance 26-13, an ordinance resing property at 200 B drive from medium density residential

single family RS10 to high density residential RS7. Anyone care to speak to that item? Item six, ordinance 26-14, an ordinance amending title 17 of the Springfield Municipal Code relative to refuge and trash disposal. Anyone care to speak to that item? Seeing none, we'll move on. Item seven, ordinance 26-15, an ordinance amending the conditions of service manual relative to natural gas infrastructure in new developments. Anyone care to speak to that? Seeing none, we'll move on. Item 8, ordinance 26-16, an ordinance amending title 3 of the Springfield Municipal Code relative to city court. Anyone care to speak to that item? Seeing none, at this time we will close our public hearing period and move into our legislative portion of our agenda. Item 2.1, discuss and positive tech action on ordinance 26-08 on second and final reading an ordinance rescending ordinance 25-02 in its entirety and establishing a new schedule the fees and charges for play at the legacy golf course. We have a motion by alderman Greg. We have a second by alderman cover. Any questions or comments?

Yes, sir. Sir, I'm very pleased cuz I've been waiting for a long time to see this almost fivestar rating. What was the projection when designed? So, thank you, sir. Your staff, you're doing a great job. Very good. Thank you. Anyone else? If not, we ready to vote. Let's cast our votes. Anyone here to change their vote? Would you tally the votes, please? Motion passes to zero.

Item 2.2, two, discuss and possibly take action on ordinance 26-09 on second and final reading an ordinance amending fiscal year 2026 annual budget for the city of Springfield by amending certain general fund and utility fund operating budgets. We're going to take this in two motions. We have our first we'll work on the amendment first. We have a motion by Alman Hover. We have a second by Alman Bradley. Any questions or comments about the amendment? To amend. Motion to amend. I'm sorry.

Second. Okay, we got a motion. Second by Commissioner Harris. Any questions or comments? What is it?

So, yeah, absolutely. So, on the first reading, there was some insurance recoveries. There's some items if you look in your packet. There's some This is when we're going to begin our end of year cleanup to move money. It's one of the largest item being moved on there was the way we're doing the fire station. $6.5 million we were originally going to expense through the capital improvements fund. Now that we're using the IDB that's moved to transfer that to the IDB that's the largest item. Any other questions or comments? That's cast our vote. Anyone care to change their vote? Would you count your votes please pass 6 to zero? Now we move on to the motion correcting to take action on the orders 2029 by reading the order submitting the fiscal year budget city of Springfield by many general fun budget a motion by Alman Hover second by Alman Bradley. Any questions or comments about this motion? Hearing none, let's cast our votes. Anyone care to change their vote? You added the votes, please.

Motion passes six to zero. Thank you. Item 2.3, discuss and possibly take action on ordinance 26-10 on second and final reading. An ordinance submitting chapter 13 zoning ordinance pertaining to the appointment of members to the board of zoning appeals. A motion by all cover all of them. Any questions or comments hearing? None. Are we ready to vote? Let's cast our votes. Anyone care to change their vote? Votes, please. Motion passes 6 to zero.

Item 2.4 discuss and possibly take action on ordinance 26-12 on second and final reading. An ordinance reszoning property at 1300 Adrian Drive from medium density residential single family RS10 to high density residential R7. We have a motion by Alman Hover to second by Alman Greg. Any questions or comments? Hearing none, are you ready to vote? Let's cast our vote. Anyone care to change their vote? Would you count in the votes, please? Motion passes six to zero.

Item 2.5, discuss and possibly take action on ordinance 26-13 on second and final reading. An ordinance resing property at 200 B drive from medium density residential single family RS10 to high density residential R7. We have a motion by Alman Hover by Alman Bradley. Any questions or comments hearing? None. Let's cast our votes. Anyone care to change their vote? Give you Charlie, please. Motion passes six to zero.

Thank you. Item 2.6 discuss and properly take action on ordinance 26-14 on second and final reading. An ordinance amending title 17 of the Springfield Municipal Code relative to refuge and trash disposal. A motion by Alman Hover, a second by Alman Holland. Any questions or comments? Hearing none, just cast our votes. Anyone care to change their Associates still voting. is doing the same. Motion passes six to zero. Item 2.7 discuss action on ordinance 26-15 on second and final reading an ordinance amending the conditions of service

management relative to natural gas infrastructure in new development. We have a motion by alderman Greg second by Holly. Any questions or comments? Are we ready to vote? Let's cast our votes.

Did it. Yours is still

here to change their votes, please. Motion passes six to zero. Thank you. Item 2.8, discuss and possibly take action on ordinance 26-16 on second and final reading. An ordinance amending title three of the Springfield Municipal Code relative to city court. We have a motion by Oliver Holland, a second by Alman Hover. Any questions or comments? Hearing none. Let's cast our votes. Yes.

Care to change their vote. for everybody. Next one. Yes.

Okay. The motion passed. uh 26 I mean 601 26 16. So now we're ready for 26 2 3.9 item 3.9 discuss and possibly take action on ordinance 26-17 on first reading and ordinance reszoning annex property at 3168 road to medium density residential part 15. We have a motion by holding Paul, second by holding Bradley. City man, I believe you have something to say about this.

Yes, sir. Thank you, Mayor. So, this is u this reason before we get there, I don't know what's going on with technology tonight. We're also having an issue with our live stream. Uh so, we are we do have the recording, but the live stream is not working. So, we just had a whole technology breakdown in the boardroom tonight between the voting system and uh and the internet with getting to uh getting to upload the live stream. So, we do have the the video of the meeting recording and we'll upload that at the end of the meeting. Uh so, that way we're still making sure folks that are at home can see the meeting. Okay. Item 2.9. Thank you, Mayor. This is the reasonzoning request. Mr. Cro spoke to this earlier. this uh the reason that we're doing this differently. So, this is a resoning subject to annexation. This property is not annexed yet. In recent consultations with MTAB due to some changes in state law for annexations, we need to split that out. Formerly, we were doing things in one bundle with a resolution. We were zoning the property with a resolution and annexing the property with a resolution. We are being advised that's not the way that we should be doing that anymore. So, we're splitting that out from from now on for the annexation. The reasonzoning will be in the form of an ordinance as our charter requires and the annexation will be in the form of a resolution. It also allows for the requester to have their zoning up front. That way, if you all are not inclined to approve the zoning that they're requesting, they have the ability to withdraw the annex section. So, this particular zoning request is for R15. It is uh 3168 Old Road. It's approximately 42 acres. Mr. Gro spoke to this earlier with regard to the fact that probably with the TVA uh transmission line that runs on that property probably a maximum of 70 units or so what can probably all that can be done on that property but is adjacent to the city limits and continuous to the city limits range. So I'll take any questions if you have any

questions but this this coincides with the growth plan. It does and the planning commission evaluated. The staff recommends approval and the planning commission recommended unanimously to approve.

Questions, public comments ready to vote. You call the role. Harris, yes. Hubard, yes. Mayor P, yes. Greg, yes. Bradley, yes. Hollerman. Yes. Motion passes zero. Motion passes six to zero.

Right. Item 2.10 discuss and possible take action on ordinance 26-8 on first reading an ordinance amending title 20 chapter 2 of Springfield Municipal Code relative to temporary food vendor regulations. Have a motion by Alman Brad. Second by Holland. City manager Ryan, I believe you have some share with us on this.

Yes, sir. Thank you, Mayor. So, this is a cleanup in our food our mobile food vendor ordinance, food truck ordinance that was some confusion that arose with regard to events such as the Robertson County Fairgrounds because our ordinance, right, currently requires no more than two food trucks can be present at a location. And you also can't be there more than two times per week and 4 days total in the city limits. What the this ordinance does is seeks to clarify that the fair is an event that's regulated by state health regulations. They have a separate health inspection. That's not the intent of our food truck ordinance. So this exempts all events that are otherwise regulated by state health regulations. If that makes sense.

Any questions, comments? You call the roll, please. Harris, yes. Hubard, yes. P, yes. Greg, yes. Bradley, yes. And Halman,

yes. 6. Item 2.11 discuss and pop to take action on ordinance 26-9 on first reading and ordinance amending ordinance 25-24 correcting the electric outdoor light have a motion have a motion by Bradley a second by Vice Mayor Harris You have any questions or comments? Call the vote, please.

Hover. Hi. Greg, yes. Holman, yes. Harris, yes. Bradley, yes. And yes. Passes six to zero.

Motion passes six to zero. Item 2.12 discuss and possibly take action on resolution 26-05 resolution declaring circuit property surplus and authorizing the disposal of sales property. Have a motion by Alman Hubard, second by Alman Bradley. Any questions or comments? Hearing none. Let's cast our vote. Bradley, yes. Holman, yes. Harris, yes. Hovers, yes. P, yes. Craig, yes.

Motion passes 6 to zero. Motion passes 5 to one. All right. Just No, I'm sorry. Excuse me. Six to zero. Okay. Item 2.13, discuss and possibly take action on resolution 26-06, a resolution annexing and accepting a plan of services for property at 3168 Old Cut Road. Have a motion by Al Holland, second by Alman Hover. Any questions or comments? If not, please call the role for ro. Hubard,

yes. P, yes. Greg, yes. Harris, yes. Bradley, yes. Holland, yes.

Motion passes six to zero. Item 2.14, discuss and prompt to take action on resolution 26-07. A resolution for approval and acceptance of a performance bond renewal and reduction for summit view phase one. We have a motion by Alman Hover second by Vice Mayor Harris. Any questions or comments? If not, thank you constituents. I'm very pleased with the last month's bill and this bill making.

We're ready to cast our vote. Let's cast a roll call vote, please. Pull. Yes. Hover. Yes. Harris, yes. Greg abstain owner Bradley. Yes. Holland. Yes.

Motion passes 5 to 0 to one. Thank you. Now we enter our administrative portion of our agenda. Item 3.1 discuss and properly take action on the adjustment of the retail electric rates due to the wholesale fuel cost adjustments by the Tennessee Valley Authority. We have a motion by Albert. We have a second electrical director Mr. Terry Rich for us, sir. 4.1% lower. I comment on the wrong one.

Any other questions or comments? I just roll up, please. Holland, yes. Bradley, yes. Hubard, yes. Yes. Greg, yes. Harris. Yes.

Motion passes by 6 to zero. Motion passes six to zero. Item 3.2 discuss to take action on the adjustment of the monthly gas rates. Need a motion. Motion by Greg. Second by Vice Mayor Harris. Mr. Gas director Vincent Davis, what do you have for us, sir? Rates decrease an average of 37%. Did you say decrease? Decrease. Yes. I'll buy your dinner.

Any questions or comments? Just roll call vote, please. Pull. Yes. Hard. Yes. Harris, yes. Greg, yes. Yes. Yes.

Motion pass. Motion passes six to zero. Item 3.3 discuss and possibly take action on the fiscal year 2027 budget approved by Springfield County joint airport. We have a motion by Holland H second by Oliver Holland city manager Ryan Martin. I believe you have something to share with us.

Yes. Thank you mayor. So every year of April 1, the Springfield Robertson County Joint Airport Board is required to submit its proposed budget for the following fiscal year to the governing authorities, which would be city of Springfield board of Mayor Auburn and the Robertson County Commission. This year that budget request is uh is included. Uh the entire budget is included. Particularly what I've highlighted for you is the request for supple supplemental funding from us which is down this year to $20,247 from the current fiscal year which is $73,000. Um airport manager Brian Irv is here along with board chairman Paul Nutting and they'll be glad to answer any questions that you have. Thank you. Does anyone have any questions? Compliment just compliment you all for a job well done. Did the county approve the last?

I'm not I'm not sure. Yes, the the the county approved our half the other half the ledger request. Any other questions or comments? Let's roll, please. Harris, yes. Greg, yes. Bradley, yes. Hover, yes. Yes. Alman, yes. passes. Motion passes six to zero.

Item 3.5. Yes, sir. Item 3.4 discussing take action on assignment of the South Rain Street Land Agreement to the Springfield Industrial Development Board. We have a motion by Alman Bradley. Have a second by Alman Holland. I believe you have something to share with us on that.

Thank you, Mayor. So, this is the should be the final agreement that you all approved. This is an assignment of the rights to the land contract to the IDB. We've moved to the stage in the process where the GMP or guaranteed maximum price should be returned to the IDB by the end of this month. Uh what does that mean? That's the guaranteed maximum price from the construction manager that the IDB has under contract to build the fire station. If that GMP is satisfactory, meaning it's within budget, then the IDB will go forward in May to approve that GMP and be ready to break ground. In order to do that, we need to assign the rights to the IDB for the land, the owners with the land, the owners of the land are aware and prepared to sign off on the assignment once it is approved by you all and accepted by the IDB. I do expect at the May meeting, if all of that works out and GMP comes back satisfactory, I do expect that IDB chairman Mike Basher will be here next month to present to you with some renderings and an update on what the fire station should look like as well as kind of forecasting what the schedule looks like from from now until completion.

Thank you. Any questions or comments? If not, let's roll call vote. Yes. P. Yes. Hover. Yes. Bradley, yes. Greg, yes. Harris, yes. Passes. Six to zero. Thank you.

Item 3.5, discuss and possibly take action on a new process for acquiring remaining easements for the highway 257 waterline upgrade project. We have a motion by Aler Bradley and a second by Aler Pollin, see manager Ryan Martin, do you have something to share with us on this?

Yes, sir. Thank you, Mayor. So, this is proposing a new process for the way we acquire easements. You all have under contract firm Craw and Associates that goes out and values the easements. They're professionals uh that are equipped to value the construction easements that we need for these projects. They then negotiate with the property owners and bring back a recommendation which we bring back to you all. And when you all approve it, then the mayor is authorized to sign that easement. Once that easement signed, we execute, receive payment and and convey the or they convey the easement to us. That's a lengthy process. We lost a couple of those along the way because of the length and time that passes between when the the negotiation happens with the property owner and when it comes to you all depending on when the agenda is due. so we can meet notice requirements. What we're proposing to do, this request actually comes from Mr. Price, our new water and wastewater director. It's the way he's formerly done this process is is approve on the front end an the option for the firm that you all have under contract to negotiate these easements up to 120% of the value they've assigned. So, for instance, if they value an easement, they say this easement is worth a maximum of $1,000. Obviously, in negotiation, they're going to start at $600 or so with the property owner, negotiate up, and it gives them the ability to negotiate up to $1,200, which would be 2020 120% of the value that you've authorized the mayor to sign for without having to come back and forth during negotiations to the board. So, it would be that amount plus the cost to cure. And what the cost to cure means uh in that situation is if we have to replace a tree that's outside of the easement, we pay for the easement, but we have to put back a tree or put back sod or whatever else is negotiated that we're removing that we have to replace during that construction process. So it would be the easement value plus the cost to cure. This would just make it cleaner on the front end. You all would you already have Crawford and Associates under contract, you approve that, you would authorize the mayor to sign

anything they've negotiated up to 120%. And that way you wouldn't have to vote on these every month as long as if it if it was over 120% or the money wasn't appropriated then it would have to come back to you all if we had a property owner that held out. But but you're authorizing the mayor and the blanket authority to sign under a certain amount. Thank you. Any questions or comments? Can you say all of it once? I don't. All right. Let's roll call vote. Hubard, yes. Pool, yes. Harris, yes. Bradley, yes. Holy,

yes. Greg, yes. Motion passes 6 to zero. Item 3.6, Six, discuss and possibly take action on task for number six to the engineering services agreement with Griggs and Maloney Incorporated. We have a motion by Alman Hubbert, second by Alman Holland. Any questions or comments? Hearing none, that's roll call, please. Bradley, yes. Greg, yes. Holman, yes. P, yes. Harris, yes. cover. Yes.

Motion passes 60. Thank you. Item 3.7, discuss and possibly take action on an amendment to the agreement with Austin P State University for GIF services. We have a motion by Alman Greg, a second by Alman Paul. Any questions or comments? Hearing none, let's roll the call vote. Hubard, yes. Harris, yes. Bradley, yes. Holman, yes. Yes. Greg, yes.

Motion passes six to zero. Thank you. Item 3.8, and eight, discuss and possibly take action on easement acquisitions for the highway 257 waterline replacement project. We have a motion. We have a second Bradley. Any questions or comments? If not, roll call vote. All yes. Greg, yes. Bradley, yes. Yes. Hubbert, yes. Harris, yes.

Motion passes six to zero. Thank you. Item 3.9, discuss and possibly take action on incorporating documents of the electric authority. We have a motion by Alman Hover, a second by Alin Holland. I believe city attorney Christy Ortiz will answer questions if you have questions for her comments from us. Are you are you have a question for Christ?

No, I just want to comment sir. Go right ahead. I'm real pleased with everybody who accepted position on board cuz I feel that they really have a a feeling about employees and most of them are very professional people. So I appreciate y any other questions or comments call Hubard. Yes. P. Yes. Bradley, yes. Holland, yes. Greg, yes. Harris, yes.

Motion passes six to zero.

We outline ask the clerk to read the names for people that are serve. Yes. All right, we have Tim Harris. He's the alderman representative. David Dean is uh at large inside the city limits. Dustin Thomas is inside the city limits. Robert Gardner inside city limits. Larry Simmons inside city limits. and Williams inside city limits and Robert Viv is outside the city limits. Any other questions or comments?

Move on to item 2.2 discuss and possibly take action on an agreement for the services at the city's annual Independence Day event. Have a motion carries second by Alman Hover. Any questions or comments? I've certainly enjoyed the last few festival we had there. You band really set the bar. So, you know, I really think it's it's a fun thing collective coming together citizens of the lobster.

It is a it's a great community. It is. He's the baby. Friday, July 3rd. Any questions or comments? I think Terry Martin might be singing this year.

You don't want that. Are we ready to vote? Let's roll call. Vote, please. Yes. P. Yes. Harris, yes. Greg, yes. Holman, yes. And Bradley, yes. Motion passes. Motion passes six to zero. Moving to our consent agenda. Without objection, move is one. We have a motion for Vice Mayor Harris. Second by McGra. Any questions or comments? Let's cast our vote. Harris,

yes. Yes. Craig, yes. Oliver, yes. Yes. And yes. That completes our agenda. On behalf of the board, I'd like for us to extend our condolences to Greg and his family and death, his mother. Absolutely. Thank you. At this time, city manager's report, Mr. Ryan Martin.

Thank you, mayor. U apologize again about the technology issues tonight. Don't know exactly what's going on, but we're having some major issues. I was even having some issues on my laptop here as well. So, I apologize for those. We'll we'll look into that and figure out what happened. Our community cleanup is this Saturday, April 25th. Thanks to those of you that have already signed up. We usually have hundreds of volunteers uh and employees that that come out and uh and help clean up Springfield. It's an opportunity for folks that care about the community that uh that you know want to make a difference and make a difference on on uh on Saturday. We are monitoring the weather. I hate to even mention that this and I talked today. He sent me a text message at um 6:00 this morning. Everyone said, "Oh, the weather." I knew exactly what he was talking about looking at that weather forecast on Saturday. So, we are monitoring it. Stay tuned to our social media. Uh you all I'll send you an email, but stay tuned to our social media for announcements about that if plans do change. But we do appreciate our sponsors and those participating TVA and Larry's Restaurant for coming alongside helping make that event possible. Bulky waste pickup is going on uh around the city. You know, we do that during the months of April and October. I would encourage residents to have their their bulky waste out as as quickly as possible. Well, if it's not out already, the way to get it out so so our staff can get around to the various parts of the city and collect the various ways. I will deliver the budget to you next week. We are pretty much wrapping that up and I should have that delivered to you sometime middle to late next week. I sent an email to you about our budget work session that's coming up. So, please let me know about that and give you an update. We haven't talked in a couple months about the Coopertown water situation. Those meetings are still ongoing. We're in a due diligence phase with uh with the company right now looking at that those assets and what we had to do for them is we had to actually inventory the assets, right? And so this Austin PG GIS contract that you all approved an amendment to tonight, the amendment tonight was for storm water

infrastructure, but the original agreement was for water infrastructure. We really leverage that contract to shoot those assets, be able to have an inventory because, as I've told you many times, we are years behind on GIS of cities our size, our operational equivalents. We're years behind. So, we're doing our best to leverage things like Austin P uh to get caught up on GIS, but that was one of the things we had to do. Mr. Brewer is overseeing that and they completed some of that data inventory this week. And so we're going to be providing that for them to evaluate and hopefully come back with an offer at some point to resolve that ongoing issue. I mentioned earlier the fire station 3 design is complete. We are wait awaiting that price once the IDB receives that and approves it. That'll come to you all to we'll share that they've approved it and they're going to be breaking ground. It also has to go to the planning commission to site plan. Finally, I would still encourage everyone particularly you all. I'll talk to a couple of you about your constituents and when they receive their utility bills. So, we're still facing a delay with the postal service. For instance, the bill if the bill comes out on on the first, they might not get the bill until the 10th or 11th, but the e bill will get delivered to them on the first. So, please encourage your constituents that are getting their bills, you know, four or five 3 or 4 days before the due date, please encourage them to sign up for emailing because they will get that bill emailed to them immediately when it's generated. They do not have to wait for the post office to deliver to them. It's a very convenient way. It's free. Uh and it's very convenient way to receive your bill on time. That way you have plenty of time to Mayor. That's all I have.

Thank you very much. This time I'm going to bring Mr. Hers to Washington. As most most of the members know, I'm the delegate from Springfield from National League of Cities, which a conglomeration of over 3,000 local elected officials. Springfield joined this organization in 19 95 under the leadership of Paul. This gives executive education to to leaders in all aspect of local government. and we have uh five main uh uh breakdowns and I'm part of the community economic development board. I've been on it for 20 years. In that we we discuss we focus on on workforce affordability and anything that has anything to do with economic growth. the this conf particular conference understand me it gives a leader a chance to be with his colleagues from across America to really see that we're all in the same boat and it's a great learning experience there's always money in the budget for everybody to go but so far I' I've been for the national I've represented well they have what they call a leaders leadership uh uh university and Mr. Lenny smiled when I came in. I was the first one to get the dominant recip of the NLC University and right now I'm one of the oldest in the country that

belongs to the NLC diamond ambassador. So I work hard to represent you. Also, I've had a chance to really share with other small cities in America how Springfield, our Springfield operates. And I'm pleased to say that we didn't have the economic hits that other cities of our size had. Okay. It was something that just we this year because of the tariffs and other things that caused a lot of problems. And my only disappointment was to see our nation capital under siege by federal troops and and and and it really kind of struck me and reminded me of the four years that I was in Europe and almost every European city had something like that. But uh the the the local the local officials are trying hard. We we we network with each other and and there he gets emails from him different things to keep us a breast and grow our city. Now, I just want to say this city, this city is is a vibrant 19,000 population city, okay? We should be proud of it because we don't have the issues that a lot of cities are this size and thank you all for allowing me to represent you on the national level.

Thank you for representing us, Mr. Appreciate that. Before we adjourn for a Friday night coming up May 1st, come have some fun. Weather's going to be good.

That's right. I'm good. I'm good. I'm good. with sandwiches and and say she'll have cracker cheesec Anything else? Let's see. Thank you everyone.