City Council

Page 23 The City of Dyer Board of Mayor and Alderpersons met in regular session, Monday, March 11, 2019, at 7:26 PM. Those present were Mayor Chris Younger, Alderpersons Ray Carroll, Bob Moore, Fred Ivie, Craig Blackburn, Jennifer Hughey, Tom Mikkelsen, Marty Graves, and Michael Barron. The City Attorney was present. Motion made by Ray Carroll, seconded by Jennifer Hughey to approve the minutes of the February 25, 2019 regular meeting. Motion carried with all ayes. Department Reports The City Recorder reminded members about City Stickers. He also said that a Finance Committee meeting was scheduled for March 21 at 6:00 to review the audited 2018 financial reports and to review current fiscal year revenue and expenses in preparation for a budget amendment. Water & Wastewater Superintendent Randy Gregory asked the board to approve the funds necessary to run a line from the scumbox to the drying beds. Polymer causes the waste to cake up in the line, and the manholes have had to be cleaned out several times. A direct line can be run for approximately $1,600; the pressure and velocity through this new pipe will keep it scoured out. Motion made by Michael Barron, seconded by Tom Mikkelsen to approve up to $1,600.00 for the installation of the line. Motion carried with all ayes. Unfinished Business Motion made by Ray Carroll, seconded by Bob Moore to pass on its second and final reading Ordinance 2019-254, an Ordinance to Amend Title 4, Chapter 2 of the Dyer Municipal Code concerning Standby Call Pay. Motion carried with all ayes. Motion made by Michael Barron, seconded by Fred Ivie to pass on its second and final reading Ordinance 2019- 255, an Ordinance to Amend Title 4, Chapter 2 of the Dyer Municipal Code concerning Holiday Pay. Motion made by Marty Graves, seconded by Ray Carroll to amend the ordinance in section one by replacing the existing text with,"Ordinance 2019-253 is repealed in its entirety."; to amend section two by replacing the existing text with, "This ordinance shall become effective on its final passage, the public welfare requiring it."; to amend section 3 by deleting the text in its entirety. The motion to amend passed with all ayes. The motion to pass the ordinance on its second reading passed with all ayes. New Business Motion made by Michael Barron, seconded by Jennifer Hughey to pass on its first reading Ordinance 2019-256, an Ordinance to Amend Title 4 of the Dyer Municipal Code to Repeal Nepotism Prohibitions. Alderman Ray Carroll asked,"Why in the world would we do this? Why would we want to get rid of it? All this does is protect against abuse." The Board discussed the issue at length. Mayor Younger said, "I personally want to hire the best person to work for the City of Dyer, period. If that candidate is Fred Ivie's son, then I want to hire him. Because it says so long as there are no other qualified candidates. The folks might be qualified, but not be the best person for the job.... Tm sure that 8 people sitting around this board have enough common sense to make the right decision.... If the mayor or a board member can't put their feelings aside enough to let their kid or somebody be supervised by somebody else, then they don't need to be in that position." Alderman Mikkelsen said,"Nobody has to feel guilty if you leave it [in place]. It's protection for the aldermen and everybody, I would think." The motion carried with Moore, Ivie, Blackburn, Hughey, and Barron voting aye; Carroll, Mikkelsen, and Graves voted no. Alderman Fred Ivie asked about the possibility that part of a cemetery road had been washed out when draining the water tank on Parkview Drive. Public Works Supervisor Randy Gregory said that he had spoken with the concerned individual and it wasn't due to draining the tank,"If I'd washed it out, I'd be coming to y'all. We didn't wash it out. I watched it and I'd heard this before." Gregory said that as a precaution, the drain at the bottom of the tank had been turned.  Page 24 Motion made by Ray Carroll, seconded by Bob Moore to pay the accounts. Motion carried with all ayes. Motion made by Craig Blackburn, seconded by Jennifer Hughey to adjourn. Motion carried with ali ayes. Chris Younger^Mayg Nathan Reed, City Recorder