Town of Alexandria
Minutes for Regular Monthly Meeting November 22, 2016
The Mayor and Board of Aldermen of the Town of Alexandria met in a regular meeting on November 22, 2016 at 7:00 P.M. The meeting was held in the conference room of Alexandria City Hall – DeKalb County, Tennessee.
The council members in attendance were Alderman Holly Key, Alderman Danny Parkerson, Alderman Kelly Pyburn, Alderman David Cripps and Alderman Matt Boss.
Mayor Bennett Armstrong and Attorney Vester Parsley were also in attendance.
The regular meeting commenced with a prayer from Attorney Mr. Parsley and was followed by the pledge of allegiance.
Mayor Bennett Armstrong asked if anyone had a motion for approval of last month’s meeting notes. Alderman Holly Key made a motion to accept. Alderman Kelly Pyburn seconded it. Motion passed unopposed.
Mayor Bennett Armstrong opened the floor for discussion. Mr. Kevin Elliott made the way to the floor. Mr. Elliott has some concerns about the 6 dollars depreciation fee. He would like to know what is the situation about the 6 dollar fee and how did it incur. He asked why his water bills jump from 70-80 dollars up to 120-140 dollars. When asked he stated that the water department said that they were just using more water. There was auditable discussion about the water system and the budgeting. Alderman David Cripps said that our water is tested monthly. Mr. Elliott wanted to know how much our city budget is and how much is in the bank. Alderman Danny Parkerson answered his question and said around $200 thousand. Attorney Vester Parsley addressed Kevin Elliott; he tried to explain to him how the water department works. Attorney said that we are actually not that much more in debt. We either continue what we are doing or have the state come in. Mr. Elliott said we are not doing any justice, and got up and left. Mrs. Elliott wanted to know if everyone just has to have a high bill before something is done? She stated that they have replaced her meter and her bill is still high. Alderman Danny Parkerson said it is her responsible to make sure that the water meter is running correctly. Mrs. Elliott stated that she’s a renter and thinks it’s the city’s responsible for the meter. Mrs. Elliott ended the conversation and left stating she will never buy a house in DeKalb County. The Alderman had a discussion about if Mr. Randy York had been out to the house. He has been out to the house a number of times. Mayor Bennett Armstrong stated that there are some residents on Old Liberty Hill to let us know they are still interested in getting water out there. They wanted to know if we could tie into Thurman Hill for the church out there. Alderman David Cripps stated there isn’t enough pressure to run it over the hill. Mayor Bennett Armstrong stated that there was a meeting today with Randy York, Alderman Matt Boss, Jerry Warren and himself. Alderman Matt Boss stated that there is a loan that was approved for $500,041. And this would be to run the water lines out to Old Liberty Hill and a pump station. This is something that the town has to be voted on. This will have all information available in December.
Mayor Bennett Armstrong asked the Alderman if they had went over last month’s meeting minutes? Alderman David Cripps stated he would like a hard copy of them since he does not check email regularly. Alderman Holly Key made a motion to accept. Alderman Kelly Pyburn seconded it. Motion passed unopposed.
Mayor Bennett Armstrong went over the Streets report. It is very minimal.
Mayor Bennett Armstrong asked for a Fire report. Chief Brian Partridge is out do to family matter. Bubba has no numbers to report. Alderman David Cripps made a motion to accept the fire report. Alderman Kelly Pyburn seconded it. Motion passed unopposed.
Police report is ready by Alderman David Cripps. He stated that there were 63 calls, 31 citations, 6 arrest, 4476 patrol miles driven, 254 business door checks, 31 church door checks and there is no new business. Alderman Danny Parkerson asked Officer Burroughs had there been any reports of people walking and knocking on doors? Officer Burroughs stated that there was a gentleman knocking on a door late at night could not recall the day, but he was picked up by Smith County Police department and he will not be back. Alderman Matt Boss made a motion to accept. Alderman Holly Key seconded it. Motion passed unopposed.
Mayor Bennett Armstrong asked for the financial report. City reporter Bridgette Rogers stated that there was a credit from Poole for $305. We also got a $1000 bonus check from Poole las month on our package deal. There is a quote for Tom Janey to continue doing our payroll. Alderman Danny Parkerson wanted to know how many checks they write for us. Bridgette Rogers answered 6 direct deposit and 2 paper checks. Last Bridgette Rogers stated that we have a CD that is about to renew unless we change it. Alderman Danny Parkerson wanted to know what the interest rate was. Alderman David Cripps answered 0.4000%. Alderman David Cripps made a motion to accept. Alderman Danny Parkerson seconded it. Motion passed unpossessed.
Mayor Bennett Armstrong asked for the Attorney report. Attorney Vester Parsley stated all he had to report was that the gentleman that hit the bridge might have more assets in his name so we should hold off on it for now. He will try to have all the answers by next month meeting. Alderman David Cripps made a motion to accept. Alderman Matt Boss seconded it. Motion passed unopposed.
Mayor Bennett Armstrong stated that the Mayors report is next. Mayor Bennett Armstrong asked Alderman Holly
Key had she had the time to finish reading the employee handbook. Alderman Holly Key stated that she did and she didn’t see any objections. Mayor Bennett Armstrong asked if any of the other Aldermen had a chance to read over it. He would like to accept it. Alderman David Cripps asked if there was ever going to be a workshop over it. Mayor Bennett Armstrong stated there have been many times going over this handbook, we have emailed it out; given the entire Alderman’s a hard copy. And no one read it. Mayor Bennett Armstrong would like to have a motion to accept. Alderman Holly Key made a motion to pass. Mayor Bennett Armstrong asked the board why they won’t accept it. Alderman Matt Boss agreed with Alderman David Cripps stating there does need to be a workshop. Mayor Bennett Armstrong stated we will be having a special hearing on the night of December 9th at 7pm, he recommends that the board should meet at 6pm that evening. He explained they will also need to replace the Co-Chair and Randy Payne’s position; this can all be done in that hour.
Mayor Bennett Armstrong asked Bridgette Rogers about the old business. Bridgette Rogers stated that there is a computer quote to update the system hard drive. It will be $399 per computer. Mayor Bennett Armstrong would like for me to look around and get more quotes. Mayor Bennett Armstrong asked about the employee Christmas bonus and day off with a Christmas dinner. Alderman Danny Parkerson asked if it was in the budget. Mayor Bennett Armstrong stated that we just saved 3600 dollars on the election. Alderman Kelly Pyburn asked what the bonus was last year. Mayor Bennett Armstrong stated he thought $25. Alderman Danny Parkerson stated that it was not put in the budget there for we do not have it. Alderman Kelly Pyburn asked the city employees that were present what they would rather have a bonus or a day off. Bridgette Rogers stated she would like a bonus. Officer Burroughs stated a bonus. Mayor Bennett Armstrong stated that he would get with all the employees and see what they would want.
Attorney Vester Parsley read the resolution for the $6 depreciation fee. Alderman Danny Parkerson made a motion to accept. Alderman David Cripps seconded it. Motion passed unopposed. Alderman Danny Parkerson stated that when the Mayor met with the engineers he would like to be present. Mayor Bennett Armstrong agreed.
Dale Smith gave the sewer report. He has had to purchase a UV for defection system. There was no other expensive. Alderman David Cripps made a motion to accept. Alderman Kelly Pyburn seconded it. Motion passed unopposed.
Alderman Matt Boss stated that the pump went down out on Sykes. Randy York was notified. Alderman Matt Boss, Alderman John Suggs and Mayor Bennett Armstrong knew about this. It was down for a few days. We had to get water from Wilson Co.
Attorney Vester Parsley stated that he would reduce his bill next month and donate that to the Christmas bonus. Alderman Kelly Pyburn, Alderman Danny Parkerson, Alderman David Cripps and Alderman Holly Key all said they would donate their December check to the Christmas bonus.
Alderman David Cripps made a motion to adjourn. Alderman Matt Boss seconded it. Motion passed. Meeting adjourned.
MAYOR_______________________________
ATTESTED____________________________
RECORDER___________________________
