Gallatin Administrative Advisor Phil Tate reported that seven applications have been received for the city administrator position and six applications have been received for city clerk position. Applications will be accepted for another two weeks and then interviews will be conducted for both positions.
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In other business at the March 9 meeting of the Gallatin Board of Aldermen, Mr. Tate met with Rotary and discussed placing their flag pole on the west side of Hwy. 16 and Hwy. 6.
Discussion was held on a proposed stop sign at Elm and Prospect which would make that intersection a four-way stop. The council invites public comment regarding the stop sign.
Cemetery mowing bids are going out this week. Bids will be due by March 23 by 4:30 p.m.
Lifeguard applications will be accepted until March 31.
During public comment, Mary Hacking said she is getting an early start on the Chautauqua celebration after heading up the festival last year for the first time. She inquired about the band tax money and discussed several events the Fine Arts Council is planning for the Chautauqua. Among her ideas for this year’s event is a strong focus on arts. Discussion took place regarding locations both on the square and even some off of the square that have not been utilized in recent years for the event.
Police Chief Mark Richards submitted a report on activity from Feb. 23 to March 9 with the following reports taken and tickets given: two civil dispute; two funeral escort; one wellness check; one neighbor dispute; one animal neglect; one assist citizen; one intoxicated subject; one cat issue; one car repossession; one medical assist; one unlock vehicle; one child locked in running vehicle; two loose dogs; one suspicious person; one park building check; two affidavits; one barking dog; one storm siren test; one lost dog; one noise complaint; one park rental. There is one dog in the pound. Chief Richards reported that the DARE program in Gallatin has been completed for this year. On March 3 the city participated in a statewide storm drill.
Public Works Director Mark Morey submitted quotes for a mini-excavator, a used 2007 roller, and a used soil reconditioner. He is still waiting for quotes on the circuit reclosures. He has applied for three grants with MIRMA for a trench box, pole climbing gear and fall protection harnesses. It is felt that the chance for success is excellent. The grant would not be paid out until around September of this year if awarded. Mr. Morey reported that two water meters were placed in the power plant in hopes of helping with some water loss issues.
Discussion was held on the need of a new zero turn mowers for the summer as there have been several issues with the city’s current one. The crews will continue investigating the valves on South Main to proceed with isolating the utilities in preparation of possibly putting the land up for bid.
Mr. Morey discussed the needed repairs to the current water plant to make it last until the new water plant is built. If the bid process had gone the way planned, the old plant could possibly make it without these repairs but in light of the high bids and the added amount of time now the repairs will need to be addressed. The biggest issues are rebuilding both media filters and fixing the leaking backwash valves.
The Transaction Report for February was approved.
Bills in the amount of $151,137.02 were approved for payment.
Andy Macias with Snyder Engineering discussed the bids for construction of the new water treatment facility that was opened last Tuesday. The construction bids all came in 30% or more higher than projected by the engineering firm. Among the reasons stated by Mr. Macias was that the original funding was set in 2010 and with all the delays, the costs have raised over the five years. Other reasons also given were the change of the site location by not acquiring the property originally planned for. The change in site caused a delay and the new site property has a lot of rock excavation which caused a higher expense. This will no doubt cause a significant delay in the already seven plus year old project. Discussion took place with other project partners present at the meeting. Stan Wolfe with USDA and Lance Rains with Green Hills discussed the grant money and the difficulty in securing any additional funding.
A special meeting has been proposed for next week for a work session with all partners involved to examine any and all options and ideas to find a solution this very significant problem.
Discussion took place regarding the situation with Marylyn Demke regarding lease of city owned land under her own business buildings on South Main. The decision was made to pursue the isolation of the waterline under her property, replacement of water service being provided from the alley to the immediate north, and the potential sale of the land. Said sale would require the city to conduct an open bidding process for purchase of the two properties.
Discussion was held on the Financial Review.
The board discussed two ordinances for the next meeting changing city administrator qualifications and residency requirements for employees.
Discussion was held on the utility shut off procedures.
The board entered into closed session pursuant to hiring, firing, disciplining or promoting employees.
The above are the unapproved minutes of the meeting for the City of Gallatin held on March 9 at City Hall. Present were Mayor Barb Ballew, Aldermen John Whitfield, Dan Lockridge, Steve Evans, Carol Walker; Administrative Advisor Phil Tate; City Clerk Autumn Acree; Public Works Director Mark Morey; Police Chief Mark Richards; Police Chaplain Austin Bonnett; Mary Hacking, Stan Wolfe, Andy Macias, Lance Rains and Darryl Wilkinson.