A list of business discussed in the meeting:
Utilities department hiring
The city received 30-40 applicants for one full-time position in the utilities department. From there, 10 individuals were called in for interviews.
“If they didn’t have any kind of water treatment experience, we just excluded them,” Wastewater Manager Chad Owens said. “We narrowed it down by quite a bit by doing that.”
Jerry Mason was the best-qualified candidate, Owens said.
The council, by a 4-2 vote, approved hiring Mason at $11 an hour. The motion to do so was made by Billy Joe Carver and seconded by Etheridge. Cook and T. Newberry voted against the hiring.
Water tank demolition
Mayor Kenneth Hollis presented to the council a single bid to demolish the water tank on Nimm Road. The proposal was given to Hollis by Water Superintendent Brian Long, who wasn’t at the meeting.
Councilman John Cook asked why the tank needed demolishing.
“There isn’t any pressure out there and it isn’t at the right elevation,” Hollis said.
Larry Cato said the last tank inspection indicated it would cost more to fix the tank than it was worth.
Ultimately, the council opted to table the issue at least one month, pending more information on the issue from Long.
Ordinance 10-7
The council approved Ordinance No. 10-7, Municipal Flood Damage Prevention, on first reading.
Increased garbage rates
The council adopted ordinance No. 10-8, increasing garbage rates, on first reading. It passed with a 4-2 vote, with Cook and T. Newberry voting no and voicing great concern on the ordinance.
Sanitation Department hires
Two new part-time employees were hired for the sanitation department.
The council approved the hiring of Anthony Knight (at $12 an hour) for the driver position and Jeff Arms (at $8 an hour) for the helper position.
Atmos Energy
The council voted to lock in 50 percent of the city’s natural gas prices for the winter months of October through March. The council did so after a presentation from Jill Kittinger and Zach Littrell of Atmos Energy Marketing, which also does business with Lafayette, Cookeville, Gallatin and Lebanon.
Barge, Waggoner, Sumner & Cannon
Larry Cato, representing Nashville-based Barge, Waggoner, Sumner & Cannon, recommended a 30 percent increase in water rates. Councilmen voted to table the proposed increase for at least two weeks, pending more information.
Planning commission
John Cook has resigned from the planning commission. He will be replaced by Billy Joe Carver, the council decided.
Justin Adams
RBS employee Justin Adams appeared before the council and said he soon would be leaving for an eight-week law enforcement program at a community college.
“I wanted to see about getting a leave of absence for the eight weeks I’ll be gone,” Adams told the council.
Ultimately, after discussion and opposition to the idea from Cook and T. Newberry, Adams’ request was approved 4-2.
Kathy Tuck
RBS resident Kathy Tuck appeared before the council to ask if there was anything they could do about the gravel coming into her yard from the road.
“She has had a mess,” Councilman Bobby Etheridge commented.
A couple solutions were kicked around, including installing 24-inch title.
“We’ll do what we can do,” Hollis said.
Minutes
Minutes from the June 10 meeting were approved as written.
Fire department
The council approved for the fire department to add Bradley Bury and Sharon Rice.
Employee raises
City employees are getting raises. The July 1 budget approved 5 percent employee cost of living raises.
“It hasn’t been done in three years,” Hollis said. “I’ll leave it up to the council – whatever the council wants to do. It hasn’t been done in three years.”
The raises would not apply to the city’s two highest-paid employees – Police Chief Terry Tuck and Water Superintendent Brian Long.
“Whatever raises comes down the pike, they don’t get it,” Hollis said. “Brian and Terry and maxed-out, topped-out and they don’t get anything.”
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