Knoxville Council Meeting Minutes

Council Meeting May 21, 2007
The regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Knoxville was called to order by Mayor Phil Myers at 7:00 PM in the community room of Knoxville Clinic, 904 East Main Street. Clerk Peg Bivens led the pledge of allegiance.

Present:  Denny Dean, Lester Naslund, Terry Pool,  Kirk Heller, Ed Mahar, Mick Gordon, TomWorden (arrived at 7: 31) and Bart Randall.
Also attending were Treasurer Ellen Klump and Attorney Wayne Statham.

Public Comments
Doug McBride questioned the benefit to the city residents of having the acting chief of police work 3rd shift.

Vicky Pickerall addressed the council in favor of the chief of police working first shift.

Bart Randall inquired as to whether the matter of rotating shifts had ever been discussed at the police committee level.

Ed Mahar reflected on the number of directives from the council  regarding the police department that had not been carried out over the past three years but regretted the speed with which recent changes had occurred.

Pat Hall, part time Knoxville patrol officer , spoke in favor of general shift rotation yet felt the department was now divided rather than unified over the issue.

Minutes
The minutes of the April 16, 2007 and May 6, 2007 council meetings  were approved as presented upon motion by Terry Pool, second by Denny Dean. 7 yeas/0 nays/ 1 absent.

Treasurer’s Report
The treasurer’s written report for the month of April, 2007,  was presented to the council and  was approved upon motion by Bart Randall, second by Mick Gordon.7 yeas/ 0 nays/ 1 absent.  Treasurer Klump also distributed  a summary of income and expenses for the last fiscal year.

Payment of Bills

Motion by Kirk Heller, second by Denny Dean, to pay the bills as presented.  7 yeas / 0 nays/ 1 absent.
Mayor Meyers offered explanation for the  unusual charge from Lambasio, Inc. in connection with repairs to a water service line resulting from an error on the part of the water department.

Bock Reports
Written reports for operations at the water plant and wastewater treatment plant for the month of March, 2007 were received by the council. Bill Oberg, operator at the wastewater plant lead the council through the highlights of the wastewater report for the benefit of new council members.

Council Overview Updates
Stan Bockewitz of Bock, Inc. and  City Engineer Steve Bruner addressed the council about various  issues facing the city with regards to water, sewer and streets.

Old Business

Simmetry Contract
Attorney Wayne Statham reported that requested changes in the contract language had been agreed to by the lesse, TMP Property  Holdings, LLC ( AKA Simmetry Communications) as well as a correction to $500 per month, the original dollar amount offered for the lease. Motion by Tom Worden second by Terry Pool to enter into the contract with  TMP Property Holdings, LLC.  8 year/ 0 nays.

 Purchase Truck from Knox Township

Motion by Denny Dean, second by Mick Gordon to purchase a 1996 Ford truck from Knox Township at a cost of $13,000. 8 yeas/ 0 nays.

Consider Newspaper for Public Notices
No action was taken pending more information from the clerk.

Hebard Street Water Main Replacement

Motion by Ed Mahar, second by Lester Naslund, to place on first reading the letting of bids for work to replace the water main on North Hebard Street . The engineering estimate projected a cost of $72,000 - $92,000.  8 yeas/ 0 nays.

Hebard Street Resurfacing
Engineer Steve Bruner presented the design for the resurfacing and widening of North Hebard Street from the railroad tracks to Douglas Street. It was the consensus of the council to refer the project to the Street Committee for additional study.

New Business

Annual Street Maintenance

Motion by Denny Dean second by Bart Randall to approve the annual street maintenance program presented by  City Engineer Steve Bruner. 8 yeas/ 0 nays.

Motion by Terry Pool second by Ed Mahar to approve resolution 2007- 02,  a resolution for the expenditure of motor fuel tax revenue in the amount of $65,000 for street maintenance work for 2007 in the City of Knoxville. 8 yeas/ 0 nays

Reappoint City Attorney

Motion by Bart Randall second by Kirk Heller to approve the Mayor’s reappointment of  Wayne Statham for the firm Stoerzbach, Robertson, Alcorn & Wilcox as city attorney. 8 yeas/ 0 nays.

Reappoint City Engineer

Motion by Terry Pool, second by Bart Randall to approve the mayor’s appointment of Steve Bruner as City Engineer. 8 yeas/ 0 nays

Consider Email ordinance
No action was taken pending  further editing by attorney Statham.

Whispering Prairie Subdivision Phase II Final Plat

Motion by Terry Pool, second by Denny Dean to approve the final plat of the Whispering Prairie Subdivision, Phase II as recommended by the Plan Commission. 8 yeas/ 0 nays.

Set  fee for 4-yard dumpsters
Consider Commercial Dumpster Charges
Action was deferred pending the receipt of more data on fees and policies charged by competing service providers.

Repurchase of Dumpsters
Tom Worden will meet with department chairman Tony Smith to examine dumpsters purchased from the city by a business who is offering to sell them back at the termination of service.

Mayor’s Report
Mayor Myers drew the attention of the council to the additional reports and information in their packets.

Committee Reports
Terry Pool, Community and Economic Development Chairman, shared a thank –you the city had received for the money donated to Project Graduation..

New Agenda Items
Revisit Ordinance establishing residence requirement – Naslund

Closed session regarding discipline of  an employee – Randall

There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 8:37 PM.

Peg Bivens,
City Clerk