The Ashland City Council held their first regularly scheduled meeting of the year on the evening of January 12.
During the meeting, members voted in the new Ward 1 council member who is replacing Lisa Walker whose resignation was accepted on October 13. The council voted 4-2 in favor of JT Smith who was one of four applicants; Vivian Fosten, Misty Holloway, and Michael Smith were also interested in the position.
“We do appreciate y’all very, very much… thank you,” Mayor Steve Allen said after the vote.
Smith will be sworn in before the next workshop which is set for February 2.
Old Business
Resolution: Alley Abandonment
A motion was made to proceed with the alley abandonment located at 575 S. Main Street 106 Duke Street.
Resolution: Updating 2020-10 Families First Coronavirus Response Act
At the December meeting, the board approved to extend the assistance through March 1, 2021. However, the federal government did not extend the act, so it will not be up for renewal in March.
-Ordinance: Fiscal Year 2020-2021 Budget Amendment #3:
In the second and final reading, the ordinance was unanimously APPROVED.
New Business
-Carnival contract for Summerfest 2021:
An updated contract with the vendor was APPROVED by the council.
-Kimley-Horn Bicentennial Trail Extension Agreement:
The agreement was formally APPROVED with an update/change.
-Contract for Farmer's Market Manager:
The contract and salary for a market manager to run the Ashland City Farmers Market this summer was APPROVED. The position will be advertised.
-Resolution: Community Development Block Grant: APPROVED
The council’s approval will allow the Town of Ashland City to apply for a Community Development Block Grant. The grant is one of few available to be used for infrastructure and utilities. During a previously scheduled public meeting, it was decided that grant monies would be used to replace sewer lift stations within the city. The funds will be awarded later in the year.
-Ordinance: Rezone Request PO-PUD to R-4PUD: Highway Map 64 Parcel 11.01:
APPROVED (1st reading)
-Ordinance: Rezone Request C-2 to R-3: 119 Vine Street Map 049 N B Parcel 1.00:
APPROVED (1st reading)
-Benefit Inc: ACA Reporting Agreement:
APPROVED
Other Business
-Employees vacated city hall last week due to multiple employees complaining of severe headaches. An air study was conducted; Once The Post can obtain a copy of the results, this article will be updated. Employees (city hall, court, and codes) have moved to the Public Works Building located at 233, Suite 103, Tennessee Waltz Parkway.
-Vice Mayor Daniel Anderson requested that the discussion of the issues surrounding Midnight Lounge, that began at the beer board meeting earlier that evening, be continued at the council’s next meeting.
“We need to take care of this problem before it becomes a bigger problem than it already is,” Anderson said.
