City Hall to be Renovated
By PJ Martin
Editor
The Herald-News
The Edmonton City Council in a special called meeting on Thursday, April 17th at the Edmonton City Hall The meeting had been moved to a different date due to spring break. Mayor Doug Smith was unable to attend due to family illness. Edmonton Fire Chief Jerry Clemmons was also absent.
City Attorney Brian Pack opened the meeting by stating, “I’ll bring the meeting to order…the method in which we select someone to preside over the meeting is someone can make a motion, nominate someone there. We need a second, and then we need to vote on that…At that point in time, that person will conduct the meeting as if they are mayor. They do not lose their power to vote.”
The motion was made by Council member Tommy England, and Council member Curt Estes was nominated, followed by a second by Council member Stacy Beard. All voted in favor of Estes.
Estes began by reminding the council that it was a special called meeting due to being on a different date and that nothing could be discussed that was not listed on the agenda. He then recognized that a quorum was present and asked for the approval of the minutes from the March 3rd meeting. The minutes were approved unanimously.
“During the spring inspection of our HVAC units, it was found that the Chamber of Commerce unit has several leaks and is a 199 model. Also found was the compressor was locked up in the 1994 model at the Senior center. The option is to replace the unit. The Chamber of Commerce is $7,314.76 and the cost to replace the unit at the Senior Center is $8,740.64,” stated Estes.
The best option recommended was the replacement of both units; however, the costs were not included in this year’s budget. A motion was made by Council member Teresa Hamlett in favor of replacing both units and a second was made by Council member Faye Word. The vote to replace the units was approved.
The next item was presented by City Clerk/Administrator Dawn Devore, “Everyone is aware, we have what we felt was a great City Hall a little over a month ago. And we have had a police presence here since that incident made us very aware of how open City Hall is. Included in your packets is a proposal for a renovation that would secure the building and let our police force be back on the road.”
There was no discussion prior to a motion being made to advertise for the renovation of City Hall and a second was made. The council voted unanimously to advertise for bids for the renovation work.
Monthly reports were presented by Public Works Superintendent Moe Hensley, ABC Administrator Fred Ray, and Parks & Recreation Manager Brian Garrett.
Police Chief David Robertson presented the March activity as 16 arrests, 9 non-injury accidents, 1 injury accident, 4 alarms, 5 animal complaints, 6 domestic disturbances, 1 incomplete 911 call, opened 7 investigations, 6 motorist assists, 7 medical calls, 36 traffic stops, served 9 warrants, 3 funeral escorts, 53 complaints, and wrote 17 citations.
Next, City Attorney Brian Pack stated that the most recent draft of the Edmonton-Metcalfe 911 Interlocal Agreement had been sent to County Attorney Sharon Howard and would be voted on by the fiscal court at their next meeting on Thursday, April 24th.
Pack also presented the lease agreement between the City of Edmonton and the Barren River Area Development District (BRADD) for the Senior Center. Previously, the building was leased by Community Action, but that lease expired on April 17th and was not renewed in any of their ten-county area.
Per the lease, BRADD will pay $300 monthly on the 10th of each month and the city agrees to not increase the rent through the initial term of the lease ending on June 30, 2026.
Upon the signing of the new lease agreement, BRADD will take over use of the building on Monday, April 28th
With no other items on the agenda, the meeting was adjourned.
