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Calling the beer board in session.

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Please roll call.

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Board Member McCowan.

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Aye.

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Board Member Dugan.

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Here.

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Board Member Sharlin.

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Board Member Curtis.

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Here.

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Chairman Eaton.

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Present.

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Each one of you has got the package.

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You got the minutes of the-

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Mm-hmm

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... Tuesday, the May 19th. Do I have a motion?

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Move approval of the minutes as presented.

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Do I hear a second?

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I second.

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Roll call.

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Board Member McCowan.

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Aye.

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Board Member Dugan.

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Aye.

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Board Member Curtis.

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Aye.

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Chairman Eaton.

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Aye.

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There's no citizens

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comments, so we'll go into the old business, and there's no old business, so we'll

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go into the new business.

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Line item A, please.

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Item A is a beer permit

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for a restaurant doing business as Mexi Wing

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2, Mexican Restaurant LLC, address

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2616 Decatur Pike, Athens, Tennessee

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37303. It is a restaurant

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and the class is on-premises consumption.

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Gentlemen, do I have a motion?

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I'll make a motion we accept the item.

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Do I hear a second?

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Any discussions, gentlemen?

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I'm just glad he's fixing to start.

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If not, roll call.

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Board Member McCowan.

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Aye.

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Board Member Dugan.

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Aye.

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Board Member Curtis.

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Aye.

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Chairman Eaton.

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Aye. There's no

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other business. We're adjourned.

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Ladies and gentlemen, we're going to get this meeting started for the regular

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session, September 15th, 2026. At this time,

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Vice Mayor, will you do the invocation

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please?

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Let's all pray together.

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Gracious and loving God, as we prepare for the long days of summer

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to begin to give way to the season of fall, we thank you

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for all the reminders of your faithfulness from one season to the next.

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As students have returned to school, and families settle into new routines,

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and our community looks forward to the months ahead, fill us with

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your wisdom and a desire to serve each other.

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Guide this city council in its deliberations, that every

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decision may reflect care for our neighbors and a

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commitment to the common good.

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Help us to be faithful stewards of the blessings you have entrusted to us,

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and to show your grace in all we do.

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In the name of Christ, our Lord, we pray, amen.

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Amen.

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Ladies and gentlemen, attention. Salute. Pledge.

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I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of

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America, and to the Republic for which it stands,

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one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty

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and justice for all.

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Ms. White, roll call, please.

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Council Member McCowan?

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Here.

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Council Member Dugan?

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Here.

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Council Member Shurlyn?

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Vice Mayor Curtis?

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Here.

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Mayor Eaton?

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Present.

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Gentlemen, you have the packages of the minutes of August the

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18th. I hear a motion to approve.

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Make a motion to approve.

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Do I hear a second?

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Second.

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Motion been made and second. Any discussions? Roll call.

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Council Member McCowan?

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Aye.

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Council Member Dugan?

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Aye.

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Vice Mayor Curtis?

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Aye.

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Mayor Eaton?

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Aye.

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Okay, we're going to move into communications special presentations.

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The first one is

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an awesome one, a TWU National Championship baseball team.

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Go

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ahead. And we'll

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take a picture right up here after we're done.

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Ladies and gentlemen, what an honor it is to be with these

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gentlemen.

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Three-time national championships.

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But we want to give a proclamation to a well-deserving team.

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So, TWU,

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whereas Tennessee Wesleyan College is a valued

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institution in the city of Athens and a

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source of pride for our community.

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Whereas,

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on May the 30th, 2026, the TWU, Tennessee

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Wesleyan University Bulldogs baseball team defeated

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Taylor University by a score

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21 to three

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to win the 2026 Avesta National

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Association of Intercol-

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... Collegiate

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Athletics NAIA World Series Championship

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in Lewistown, Idaho. And

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whereas this championship marks the third national

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championship in the program's history, following the previous

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championships in 2012,

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2019, and

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whereas under the leadership of Head Coach Billy Berry,

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the Bulldogs have established Tennessee Wesleyan Baseball as one of the

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premier programs in the NAIA. And

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whereas the Bulldogs' championship season reflects the

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dedication, discipline, teamwork, and excellence

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of its student athletes, coaches,

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and support staff. And whereas the

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City of Athens wishes to recognize the dedication,

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discipline, teamwork, and excellent demonstration of the

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student athletes and the coaches.

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Now, therefore, I, Larry Eaton, the mayor of Athens,

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Tennessee, on behalf of the Athens City Council and

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the citizens of Athens, Tennessee, do hereby

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recognize and congratulate the Tennessee

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Wesleyan University Bulldog baseball team

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on winning the 2026 NAIA

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National Championship.

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But it be furthermore

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proclaimed that the City of Athens commends the student

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athletes, coaches, and staff for the extraordinary

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accomplishment and extends its sincere appreciation for the

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pride they have brought to our community, and along with the

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best wishes of continued success for the years to come.

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Proclamation this day, the 15th September

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2026, and I do appreciate each one of you all, and

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let's do it again this year. Yes, sir. Appreciate it.

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We're going to have a picture right up here.

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Gentlemen, if you guys will stand up, let's get right here in front, and we'll have

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a picture. And the City Council,

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you guys come around because you all are short.

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Come on up.

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Should we say a few words?

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Yeah. Yeah, please.

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Yeah, I can. So thank you, Mayor, and thank

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you, the Chamber. I want to thank

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our AD, Donnie Mayfield, our president, Dr.

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Tyler Forrest, for all of their continued support.

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I'd be remiss if I didn't thank Bobby Goodfriend, Alan Carter, for

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a lot of the renovations and things that have been done over the course of the

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last year. Our facility has taken on a whole new look.

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We are

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brand new. In 2027, these six

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guys right here are the only guys returning that were on the trip last year.

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So,

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it's a brand new roster, but

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Thomas Teal, Thomas is from Arizona, was a catcher on

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our team.

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Jalen Fullwood, Jalen is from Georgia.

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He is a senior this year as well. Thomas is also a senior.

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Michael Sahm, who's a right-handed pitcher. I'm going this way.

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So

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Michael is a right-handed pitcher. He's a senior also this year.

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Ethan Wright, Ethan is from California. He was an outfielder.

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He is also a senior this year. Baylor Homesley,

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Baylor, you're from Alabama? Georgia, that's right,

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is from Georgia. You went to school in Alabama.

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Maybe.

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That's right, okay, is from Georgia.

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He is also a right-handed pitcher.

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Colton Reynolds, Colton graduated last year.

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Colton is currently on our staff as a graduate assistant.

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He is from Arkansas. And Colton

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was an outfielder for our team last year.

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Logan Fleener, who is one of our assistants, Daniel Wood, who is one of our

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assistants. Definitely want to thank those two guys.

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The hard work that they put in, the time that they spend away on the road

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and doing those things, is definitely something that we cannot do what we do

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unless these two guys do what they do. So, thank you to our community.

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Thank you to our town. It means a ton.

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We've always said we feel the support when we're on the other

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side of the country,

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a three-hour time difference, but we also feel the support from our community, so

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we want to thank you for that. So, thank you guys for everything. Appreciate it.

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Line up right up here. Let's go right up here.

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I'm going to get right in the center of you all. I don't know why. Is my hair okay?

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Looks good.

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Yeah.

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Make a window.

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You, you-

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Let's make a window.

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You got it right there?

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Yeah, it's good. It's really good.

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I'll have to back up a little bit even more. Yeah, you may have to.

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I was up there.

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Yes.

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Just barely right here.

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Thank you.

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Perfect. Gentlemen, I appreciate you all. Thank you. Appreciate you.

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Congratulations to you all. Appreciate you all. Appreciate you. Thank you.

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Coach, appreciate it.

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Thanks, bud, appreciate it.

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Appreciate you, gentlemen. Appreciate you, gentlemen. Thank you.

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Appreciate you all.

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Appreciate you. We're good.

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Thanks.

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Yeah.

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Appreciate it.

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Thank you.

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Congratulations. Congratulations. Thanks. Thank you. Thank you.

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Appreciate

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you.

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Okay, gentlemen.

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The next one is a very special one,

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that means a lot to our community and just about

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everybody here. We're going to give the Vivid Award today

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to Johnny Coffman, and the vice mayor will be giving this to Mr.

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Coffman.

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Johnny, I'm going to invite you up in a moment to say a few words, but first, I

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want to invite Mr. Chris Adams up to share a few words.

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I reached out to Chris today to see if he might want to share a comment or

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remark, and he said, "I think I'll join the meeting and share my comments

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in person," which I think is absolutely appropriate. I will say this.

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I was sitting there as Westland's baseball team was being

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recognized, National Championship baseball team.

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Mm-hmm.

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And I think how appropriate that we're honoring Johnny Kauffman immediately

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after that, a man that has done so much for education, sports, and

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recreation in our community, among other ways.

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Just a few comments from the nomination form.

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Johnny was nominated by Parks and Rec

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Committee Chair Ron Starr, and to kind of summarize

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his comments and his nomination form,

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he is pleased to nominate Johnny Kauffman for the City of Athens Vivid Award

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in recognition of his decades of service, involvement, and

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dedication to the Athens community.

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He has served as a member of the City of Athens Parks and Rec Advisory

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Committee for more than 20 years, providing his time,

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experience, and perspective in support of recreational

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opportunities and programs for the citizens of Athens.

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His commitment to our community, however, extends far beyond his service

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to the city.

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For many decades, he has been actively involved in youth

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sports and numerous community organizations and activities,

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giving countless hours of his time to programs and events that have

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helped shape the lives of generations of young people and families in

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Athens and McMinn County. His service has been

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consistent, dependable, and carried out without seeking

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recognition for himself.

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00:44:44,414 --> 00:44:48,394
Johnny is also, quite literally, one of the most recognizable voices

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00:44:48,434 --> 00:44:49,164
in our community.

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00:44:50,034 --> 00:44:54,014
For decades, he has been known as the voice of the Cherokees and has

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00:44:54,034 --> 00:44:57,594
served as master of ceremonies for Junior Miss, along with

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00:44:57,634 --> 00:45:00,094
participating in many other community events.

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00:45:01,594 --> 00:45:05,494
Through these roles, he has helped celebrate the accomplishments of

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00:45:05,574 --> 00:45:09,034
others, recognize young people, and contribute to

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00:45:09,074 --> 00:45:12,974
traditions that have become an important part of our community's

274
00:45:12,994 --> 00:45:13,434
history.

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00:45:14,614 --> 00:45:18,454
What makes Johnny particularly deserving of this recognition is

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00:45:18,514 --> 00:45:22,254
not one single accomplishment, but the cumulative impact of a

277
00:45:22,294 --> 00:45:23,514
lifetime of service.

278
00:45:24,514 --> 00:45:28,484
He has spent many years supporting young people, recreation,

279
00:45:28,674 --> 00:45:31,694
athletics, civic organizations, and community traditions.

280
00:45:32,874 --> 00:45:36,574
Much of that service has occurred quietly and consistently year after

281
00:45:36,674 --> 00:45:39,434
year without expectation of acknowledgment.

282
00:45:40,534 --> 00:45:44,514
At this point, I believe it is fitting that the community he has supported for so

283
00:45:44,614 --> 00:45:47,274
many years take the opportunity to recognize him.

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00:45:48,294 --> 00:45:52,014
His longstanding dedication to Athens represents the type of

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00:45:52,074 --> 00:45:55,954
volunteerism, civic involvement, and community spirit that the

286
00:45:56,034 --> 00:45:57,634
Vivid Award is intended to honor.

287
00:45:59,374 --> 00:46:02,374
Also reached out to my McMinn County High School classmate,

288
00:46:03,654 --> 00:46:06,714
Johnny's son, Justin Kauffman, to see if he might want to share a remark about his

289
00:46:06,834 --> 00:46:10,514
dad for this celebration. "Dad is extremely

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00:46:10,534 --> 00:46:12,984
devoted to and passionate about his community.

291
00:46:13,804 --> 00:46:17,654
He truly believes that you should give back to make this city a better

292
00:46:17,674 --> 00:46:20,694
place to live, work, and raise a family.

293
00:46:20,774 --> 00:46:24,554
It's shown in his actions, being on numerous boards, his involvement in

294
00:46:24,634 --> 00:46:28,434
Junior Miss, playing the piano at church, and being the voice

295
00:46:28,514 --> 00:46:32,334
that painted vivid pictures to listeners for McMinn County High

296
00:46:32,454 --> 00:46:36,114
School and TW Athletics for almost 50 years."

297
00:46:37,234 --> 00:46:39,154
What great words. I want to turn it over now to Mr.

298
00:46:39,394 --> 00:46:42,954
Chris Adams to share a few comments about Johnny, which I think

299
00:46:43,034 --> 00:46:46,874
may revolve around his involvement serving on the Athens City

300
00:46:46,994 --> 00:46:48,154
School Board. So, Chris?

301
00:46:48,234 --> 00:46:48,534
Thank you.

302
00:46:49,434 --> 00:46:52,554
I'm about to pull a Bruce Pearl here and sweat through my coat.

303
00:46:52,634 --> 00:46:54,954
So- ... I'll make this quick. But

304
00:46:55,914 --> 00:46:59,334
it is certainly my honor and privilege to be here tonight to speak about

305
00:46:59,374 --> 00:47:03,294
Johnny and his impact on the community, and specifically Athens City

306
00:47:03,354 --> 00:47:03,834
Schools.

307
00:47:04,774 --> 00:47:07,614
Johnny joined Athens City School Board in March of 2016.

308
00:47:08,494 --> 00:47:12,434
Immediately, I recognized his passion for public education,

309
00:47:13,113 --> 00:47:17,014
his desire to advocate for all students, and his unwavering drive for Athens

310
00:47:17,074 --> 00:47:18,674
City Schools to achieve excellence.

311
00:47:20,394 --> 00:47:24,234
One of our first big projects was somewhat already in motion when Johnny joined our

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00:47:24,254 --> 00:47:27,994
board. A consolidation of Athens City School buildings into an efficient and

313
00:47:28,054 --> 00:47:32,034
effective school campus where pre-K through eighth grade would be situated

314
00:47:32,074 --> 00:47:36,034
in the City Park area was a part of many school board discussions.

315
00:47:36,974 --> 00:47:40,414
This required proper planning, budgeting, negotiating, and most importantly,

316
00:47:40,464 --> 00:47:44,334
communication over a number of years between Athens City Schools, Athens

317
00:47:44,374 --> 00:47:48,154
City Council, and our community. Johnny was immediately on

318
00:47:48,234 --> 00:47:51,974
board, diligent, and always a voice of reason as we worked through the

319
00:47:52,014 --> 00:47:53,884
process to see this plan come to light.

320
00:47:55,594 --> 00:47:59,184
I've heard Johnny say many times, "This is a project that I will always be proud of

321
00:47:59,254 --> 00:47:59,954
to be a part of."

322
00:48:00,774 --> 00:48:04,714
I can't agree more, Johnny, and to be honest with you, I don't think

323
00:48:04,754 --> 00:48:06,134
we could've accomplished it without you.

324
00:48:07,974 --> 00:48:11,194
This is a project that has impacted the students of Athens City Schools

325
00:48:12,314 --> 00:48:15,974
and those now in the future, and we absolutely appreciate your

326
00:48:15,994 --> 00:48:16,774
participation.

327
00:48:18,134 --> 00:48:19,594
Johnny has served as our Athens City School

328
00:48:19,654 --> 00:48:24,214
legislative

329
00:48:24,334 --> 00:48:28,204
representative for many years. This is a huge responsibility,

330
00:48:28,334 --> 00:48:31,974
just from the amount of information that is generated from the legislative

331
00:48:32,414 --> 00:48:36,294
session, our legislators, and the Department of Energy--

332
00:48:37,034 --> 00:48:37,633
Education.

333
00:48:38,814 --> 00:48:42,594
Johnny's leadership, his stance on the importance of public

334
00:48:42,674 --> 00:48:46,254
education, and keeping Athens City Schools' needs in front of our

335
00:48:46,274 --> 00:48:48,454
legislators has been commendable.

336
00:48:49,134 --> 00:48:51,834
Most recently, Johnny assumed the role as a vice chair of our board.

337
00:48:52,454 --> 00:48:55,774
I cannot think of a better person to help lead, guide, and direct our school system

338
00:48:56,274 --> 00:48:59,504
and our board than Johnny. It is truly a privilege to serve with you

339
00:49:00,718 --> 00:49:04,478
As recognition of his efforts as school board member, Johnny was recognized most

340
00:49:04,538 --> 00:49:08,238
recently in 2025 and inducted into the Tennessee All School

341
00:49:08,338 --> 00:49:11,918
Board. It's hard to drive through McMinn County and

342
00:49:11,978 --> 00:49:15,958
Athens without seeing something Johnny Kauffman has impacted in a positive way.

343
00:49:16,858 --> 00:49:20,848
Newspapers, both from a employment standpoint and as a

344
00:49:20,848 --> 00:49:24,278
contributor, radio, local sports, Junior Miss,

345
00:49:24,778 --> 00:49:28,698
education, Marsh Hill Presbyterian Church, McMinn County High School, Tennessee

346
00:49:28,738 --> 00:49:31,198
Wesleyan, Athens City Schools, and Camp Utanay Ochi,

347
00:49:32,298 --> 00:49:36,198
and the list goes on. His desire to help others and his

348
00:49:36,258 --> 00:49:37,098
personal joy

349
00:49:38,098 --> 00:49:40,978
to see others succeed is evident in his daily actions.

350
00:49:42,178 --> 00:49:45,418
I will officially go on record tonight as being one of the many people that

351
00:49:45,478 --> 00:49:49,338
encouraged Johnny to commit his knowledge and history of all things McMinn County

352
00:49:49,378 --> 00:49:51,298
and Athens to paper.

353
00:49:52,098 --> 00:49:55,938
No doubt a book with the voice of the Cherokees as the author would be a

354
00:49:55,978 --> 00:49:56,518
best seller.

355
00:49:58,378 --> 00:50:01,138
Johnny, congratulations on this well-deserved recognition.

356
00:50:02,398 --> 00:50:06,218
You have certainly shown the way to be a true community servant.

357
00:50:13,778 --> 00:50:15,158
Johnny, share a few words for us.

358
00:50:20,178 --> 00:50:22,158
Thank you, Chris. Thank you, Jordan.

359
00:50:22,288 --> 00:50:26,208
I texted Larry last night, the mayor, and said, "I wonder if I

360
00:50:26,238 --> 00:50:29,998
can have just a couple of minutes to talk about some things we've gotten done in 25

361
00:50:30,038 --> 00:50:30,668
years on the

362
00:50:31,478 --> 00:50:34,578
Parks and Rec board," and he said, "You've got three minutes, and it'll has to be-

363
00:50:35,088 --> 00:50:39,058
... remained to the agenda." So I'll do the best I can. My family is here.

364
00:50:39,138 --> 00:50:41,138
I want to recognize them before I get out of here tonight.

365
00:50:41,178 --> 00:50:44,658
But Athens city has been blessed with parks and rec

366
00:50:44,758 --> 00:50:48,138
directors. I can remember back to the days of Larry Zender, who

367
00:50:48,898 --> 00:50:52,838
came here by way of Clemson University and ended up down

368
00:50:52,878 --> 00:50:56,538
in Chattanooga. He's now the administrator of parks and recreation in

369
00:50:56,598 --> 00:51:00,338
Chattanooga now. Then we had Brad Chambers, who I worked with, not on the board,

370
00:51:00,438 --> 00:51:00,638
but

371
00:51:01,718 --> 00:51:03,698
for several years in several different projects.

372
00:51:04,758 --> 00:51:08,018
Brad was involved in that. He's gone on to bigger and better things.

373
00:51:08,078 --> 00:51:11,597
He's been in parks and rec. He's been parks and rec directors at different

374
00:51:12,458 --> 00:51:14,798
places. He's also been in city management in

375
00:51:15,738 --> 00:51:19,398
Tennessee and Georgia and Kentucky and Missouri, so he has done very

376
00:51:19,718 --> 00:51:23,598
well. And then Austin Fesmire, who I worked

377
00:51:23,678 --> 00:51:26,518
with prior to getting on the board when I was running the Little League.

378
00:51:26,598 --> 00:51:26,798
He

379
00:51:27,718 --> 00:51:28,038
was

380
00:51:28,978 --> 00:51:32,338
my liaison here at the city, and we had some battles over

381
00:51:33,138 --> 00:51:35,498
building a new press box and a new

382
00:51:36,938 --> 00:51:38,598
concession stand, so on and so forth.

383
00:51:38,638 --> 00:51:41,098
But Austin turned into a dear friend of mine.

384
00:51:41,678 --> 00:51:44,858
He had great vision, and he was also very

385
00:51:45,358 --> 00:51:49,198
talented at writing grants. And man, that's the lifeblood of your

386
00:51:49,278 --> 00:51:50,878
city right there and your programs.

387
00:51:50,928 --> 00:51:53,678
That's free money that you just cannot give away.

388
00:51:54,338 --> 00:51:58,097
And then he retired, and then Matt Senio is the new guy, and you talk about

389
00:51:58,158 --> 00:51:59,298
energy. This kid, man, he

390
00:52:00,118 --> 00:52:03,498
makes me tired, just watching him go from one thing to another.

391
00:52:04,098 --> 00:52:04,318
But

392
00:52:05,698 --> 00:52:09,058
you're in good hands with Matt. He's going to do good things for the

393
00:52:09,098 --> 00:52:12,878
city. Just a brief rundown of some of the things that

394
00:52:12,918 --> 00:52:15,818
Parks and Rec has been involved with, and I called Mike Heath to

395
00:52:15,978 --> 00:52:19,958
do a little research, and it was 2001 when I was first

396
00:52:19,998 --> 00:52:21,738
appointed to the board. And

397
00:52:22,958 --> 00:52:24,698
I guess the biggest thing there was

398
00:52:26,038 --> 00:52:28,078
Regional Park. That's our crown jewel.

399
00:52:28,818 --> 00:52:31,918
And there's a Frisbee golf course out there.

400
00:52:31,958 --> 00:52:34,798
There's walking trails out there. There's a pond out there.

401
00:52:36,038 --> 00:52:37,018
There's a

402
00:52:38,038 --> 00:52:41,658
splash pad out there, and right now they have just

403
00:52:41,718 --> 00:52:45,138
recently turfed the fields, and now they're

404
00:52:45,358 --> 00:52:49,298
realizing finally, after I have campaigned in front of this council

405
00:52:49,398 --> 00:52:52,798
for several times about putting turf out there, so you can

406
00:52:52,898 --> 00:52:53,398
generate

407
00:52:55,238 --> 00:52:58,718
income for your city. Those are dollars that

408
00:52:59,038 --> 00:53:01,438
you're just missing out on all those years.

409
00:53:01,468 --> 00:53:01,858
Anyway,

410
00:53:03,118 --> 00:53:07,078
that's proven this year when we had all those

411
00:53:07,678 --> 00:53:11,018
softball tournaments, baseball tournaments, people coming in from everywhere.

412
00:53:11,028 --> 00:53:11,418
The

413
00:53:13,998 --> 00:53:17,917
local league has actually even picked up, I think, a number of teams.

414
00:53:19,537 --> 00:53:23,358
And I'm still going to advocate for additional turf at those fields.

415
00:53:23,418 --> 00:53:25,218
We need them fully turfed. And

416
00:53:26,998 --> 00:53:27,618
it's just

417
00:53:28,518 --> 00:53:31,818
good common sense because you're bringing people in all the time.

418
00:53:31,848 --> 00:53:34,318
At Cook Park, we have done some things there.

419
00:53:34,418 --> 00:53:34,518
We

420
00:53:35,398 --> 00:53:37,398
put in new playground equipment there.

421
00:53:37,478 --> 00:53:39,978
We have put in a new

422
00:53:41,558 --> 00:53:45,038
pavilion. We went out there, Matt sent a guy out there

423
00:53:45,158 --> 00:53:48,938
about five or six months ago and put some new lights in, put a

424
00:53:48,978 --> 00:53:52,368
light up on a pole, shining right in Eddie Arnwine's- ...

425
00:53:52,658 --> 00:53:54,188
bedroom window, right in his window.

426
00:53:55,118 --> 00:53:58,038
Yeah, we heard about that, so we got that light moved.

427
00:53:58,118 --> 00:54:00,458
And Eddie's happy. But

428
00:54:01,458 --> 00:54:03,348
once again, I'm not going to let this

429
00:54:04,418 --> 00:54:07,818
pass me by. We still need parking at Cook Park.

430
00:54:08,178 --> 00:54:11,198
There's some nice level ground over there where that monument is.

431
00:54:11,258 --> 00:54:14,638
We can move that monument. We can set it up there by the playground, and we can get

432
00:54:14,698 --> 00:54:16,858
a whole bunch of parking places down there where that monument is.

433
00:54:17,298 --> 00:54:18,737
So I'm not going to let you forget that.

434
00:54:20,458 --> 00:54:22,538
Heritage Park was just recently reopened.

435
00:54:22,738 --> 00:54:26,298
That's a ballpark that's been there for many years, had a lot of softball played

436
00:54:26,358 --> 00:54:26,758
out there.

437
00:54:28,218 --> 00:54:31,718
Got into some disrepair, and we had a grand reopening of that

438
00:54:32,138 --> 00:54:35,718
just not too awful long ago. Veterans Park came on

439
00:54:36,158 --> 00:54:40,118
during my tenure, and it's open now, and it's

440
00:54:40,178 --> 00:54:42,158
a beautiful place. There are dedicated bricks.

441
00:54:42,298 --> 00:54:42,438
My

442
00:54:43,358 --> 00:54:47,258
youngest son, I've got a brick in his name, as he was in the Army, and

443
00:54:48,418 --> 00:54:50,158
turned that into just a showplace.

444
00:54:50,848 --> 00:54:54,678
The Parks and Rec Foundation was formed during this time,

445
00:54:54,778 --> 00:54:58,178
during these 25 years. The pickleball courts at Ingleside.

446
00:54:58,898 --> 00:55:00,238
I know there was-- Man, this was

447
00:55:01,050 --> 00:55:02,670
You either loved it or you hated it.

448
00:55:02,710 --> 00:55:06,090
But once again, the citizens wanted it, the citizens got it.

449
00:55:06,150 --> 00:55:09,430
It's a good thing. They're there. We need more pickleball

450
00:55:09,550 --> 00:55:13,530
courts. We could generate income off pickleball courts and not

451
00:55:13,610 --> 00:55:17,160
just take care of your citizens, but you can generate income off of

452
00:55:17,190 --> 00:55:21,150
that. And I talk about income, but at the same time, and

453
00:55:21,190 --> 00:55:25,130
we talk about growth sometimes, but growth is a whole lot more than

454
00:55:25,190 --> 00:55:28,670
just population. It is you're growing

455
00:55:28,710 --> 00:55:32,450
things for your city, for what your citizens want to do.

456
00:55:33,030 --> 00:55:36,670
And I see Joe Barnett here tonight, who's our director of schools for

457
00:55:37,170 --> 00:55:40,410
Athens City, and he and the city council went

458
00:55:40,470 --> 00:55:41,590
together to

459
00:55:42,770 --> 00:55:46,030
build a playground up there behind the middle school, right where those pickleball

460
00:55:46,110 --> 00:55:48,750
courts are, where they converted those tennis courts into pickleball courts.

461
00:55:48,790 --> 00:55:50,330
They needed some place for the kids to play.

462
00:55:50,410 --> 00:55:54,190
So that was a nice joint venture between the city schools and the city council.

463
00:55:54,230 --> 00:55:57,070
It's 50/50, and it's worked out very, very well.

464
00:55:58,390 --> 00:56:01,870
The Soapbox Derby came to town during this

465
00:56:02,010 --> 00:56:02,890
25 years.

466
00:56:03,950 --> 00:56:07,810
Market Park came to town. Market Park is where they have all the

467
00:56:07,870 --> 00:56:09,430
Sounds of Summer, where they have

468
00:56:10,510 --> 00:56:14,310
festivals, and Pumpkin Town is coming up, and it'll be heavily used there.

469
00:56:15,490 --> 00:56:16,150
Also,

470
00:56:16,990 --> 00:56:20,610
one more thing that I'm going to campaign for, which I've already approached the

471
00:56:20,630 --> 00:56:24,400
council about on one occasion, and that is a community

472
00:56:24,490 --> 00:56:27,810
center. Somehow, some way, that is going to happen.

473
00:56:27,910 --> 00:56:31,230
It's going to come to fruition. That was one of the

474
00:56:31,470 --> 00:56:34,170
negatives of closing all our

475
00:56:35,430 --> 00:56:39,250
smaller schools and our neighborhood schools

476
00:56:39,290 --> 00:56:42,150
and putting in the new campus. We lost a bunch of gyms.

477
00:56:42,790 --> 00:56:43,590
And with the

478
00:56:45,470 --> 00:56:48,500
basketball program here that the city offers, there's nowhere to

479
00:56:48,550 --> 00:56:52,450
practice. And so now they've worked some things out now with the

480
00:56:52,530 --> 00:56:56,490
new school, but there's still a need for that, not only just for basketball courts,

481
00:56:56,530 --> 00:57:00,370
but for other things as well. So you guys need to keep that in mind.

482
00:57:02,390 --> 00:57:02,890
Also,

483
00:57:04,830 --> 00:57:07,870
my family is here tonight, and I'd like for them to just stand up.

484
00:57:07,900 --> 00:57:10,130
I won't make you come up here, but I'm going to recognize them.

485
00:57:11,770 --> 00:57:14,150
Stand up, please. My youngest son, Garrett, is on the back.

486
00:57:14,210 --> 00:57:15,750
He's a firefighter in Chattanooga.

487
00:57:17,330 --> 00:57:20,510
My oldest son, Justin, is right here. He works at Star Regional.

488
00:57:21,350 --> 00:57:22,950
His wife, Dana,

489
00:57:23,830 --> 00:57:25,670
who is a nurse, ICU nurse at

490
00:57:26,630 --> 00:57:29,270
Tenova in Cleveland. I guess it's still Tenova, isn't it?

491
00:57:29,670 --> 00:57:29,679
Yeah.

492
00:57:29,810 --> 00:57:31,550
Whatever it is. It's the old Bradley Hospital.

493
00:57:31,770 --> 00:57:31,910
Bradley.

494
00:57:32,110 --> 00:57:32,600
What is it called?

495
00:57:32,970 --> 00:57:33,750
Bradley Methods.

496
00:57:33,810 --> 00:57:37,070
Bradley? Okay. Garrett's fiancée, Crystal Shipley.

497
00:57:38,030 --> 00:57:41,830
This is my naturally blonde-headed grandson, Marshall

498
00:57:41,930 --> 00:57:45,890
Goodner who is a senior football player at McMinn

499
00:57:45,910 --> 00:57:49,590
and is a baseball player. He's headed to Lee in the fall to play baseball

500
00:57:49,650 --> 00:57:53,350
for the Flames. And my two cancer survivors right here,

501
00:57:53,570 --> 00:57:57,370
two of them. My wife, Mary, who has been with me the

502
00:57:57,380 --> 00:58:00,160
entire 25 years, and I appreciate you so much.

503
00:58:00,710 --> 00:58:03,150
She survived breast and ovarian cancer last year.

504
00:58:03,230 --> 00:58:05,310
She's on the road to recovery.

505
00:58:06,270 --> 00:58:07,410
Clean PET scans.

506
00:58:08,330 --> 00:58:11,870
And my sweetheart here is my granddaughter, Kennedy, who

507
00:58:12,090 --> 00:58:15,250
was diagnosed with T-cell lymphoma when she was three

508
00:58:16,150 --> 00:58:17,930
and went through 29 months of chemo.

509
00:58:18,899 --> 00:58:22,310
And I probably shouldn't be talking about this, but 45-day hospital

510
00:58:22,410 --> 00:58:26,290
stay. Just turned 11 in June. She's been

511
00:58:26,330 --> 00:58:28,950
five years cancer-free. God is good.

512
00:58:36,050 --> 00:58:39,060
And I'm out of here, but the ironic thing was is

513
00:58:39,130 --> 00:58:43,080
the terms on these council, this Parks

514
00:58:43,090 --> 00:58:44,550
and Rec committee, I think it's four years.

515
00:58:45,710 --> 00:58:47,760
This year, I didn't realize that

516
00:58:49,090 --> 00:58:52,750
my term was up, and so somebody, I think they didn't tell me on purpose.

517
00:58:53,090 --> 00:58:56,290
But then I found out very late in the process that I was supposed to

518
00:58:56,330 --> 00:58:59,010
reapply to do this. It has to go before council.

519
00:58:59,090 --> 00:59:02,070
And so I hadn't done anything about it, and so I thought, well,

520
00:59:03,670 --> 00:59:04,880
I was going to retire sometime anyway.

521
00:59:04,890 --> 00:59:08,570
I told Austin at one point, I said, "I'm going to stay until you retire anyway."

522
00:59:08,610 --> 00:59:08,710
But

523
00:59:11,090 --> 00:59:11,910
so I

524
00:59:14,670 --> 00:59:18,570
filled out the application online and sent it in,

525
00:59:19,230 --> 00:59:23,140
and I guess Bridget got it, and it got all hosed up, and

526
00:59:23,170 --> 00:59:25,950
it wouldn't go through, and I couldn't get it to work.

527
00:59:25,990 --> 00:59:27,759
And she said, "Well, just

528
00:59:28,730 --> 00:59:31,290
do this and do that." And I said, "No, I think this is just a sign.

529
00:59:31,850 --> 00:59:34,770
I think it's just time." So it's been 25 years.

530
00:59:34,810 --> 00:59:34,910
And

531
00:59:35,950 --> 00:59:39,810
one more thing before I go, and with Tennessee Wesleyan here tonight, that baseball

532
00:59:39,830 --> 00:59:43,540
team, sometime when you got about two hours, I'll sit down and talk to you about

533
00:59:43,610 --> 00:59:47,310
the Wesleyan baseball program of the '70s when they rejuvenated that

534
00:59:47,319 --> 00:59:50,070
program and brought Wayne Norfleet in to coach,

535
00:59:50,210 --> 00:59:54,030
and the baseball team was recruited by the

536
00:59:54,070 --> 00:59:57,870
administration. That means the dean of students,

537
00:59:58,310 --> 01:00:00,910
the president of the college, they had no baseball coach.

538
01:00:01,510 --> 01:00:04,950
So they went out and recruited these kids to play baseball, and

539
01:00:05,150 --> 01:00:07,910
Norfleet comes in, and some of them can't line up.

540
01:00:08,430 --> 01:00:12,330
So the difference between the '70s and right now is astronomical.

541
01:00:12,390 --> 01:00:16,300
But what a great job Billy Berry has done at Tennessee Wesleyan College, and

542
01:00:16,300 --> 01:00:18,670
what a great job Tyler Forrest is doing there as well.

543
01:00:19,530 --> 01:00:20,730
Thank you, City Council.

544
01:00:23,490 --> 01:00:26,710
I get recognized from time to time for things, but this one is just, for some

545
01:00:26,790 --> 01:00:30,570
reason, is very, very special because Parks and Rec has been very close to me.

546
01:00:30,610 --> 01:00:34,290
It's been an honor to be associated with it for 25 years, and

547
01:00:34,890 --> 01:00:36,850
I do love this city. Thank you very much.

548
01:00:40,970 --> 01:00:43,990
Congratulations, Johnny. Of course, we've got to get a photo.

549
01:00:44,010 --> 01:00:44,170
Oh.

550
01:00:44,750 --> 01:00:47,330
Would you like your family to join you for the photo?

551
01:00:47,410 --> 01:00:48,230
Sure, let's do it outside.

552
01:00:48,290 --> 01:00:48,490
Yep.

553
01:00:49,390 --> 01:00:50,070
You want to do it in here?

554
01:00:50,550 --> 01:00:51,990
Probably do it right here in front of the desk.

555
01:00:52,010 --> 01:00:52,730
All right.

556
01:00:55,370 --> 01:00:56,870
That's it.

557
01:00:57,470 --> 01:00:58,610
Yeah.

558
01:00:58,890 --> 01:01:00,380
Just like that.

559
01:01:00,510 --> 01:01:02,850
We can do it right here?

560
01:01:02,970 --> 01:01:03,370
Yeah.

561
01:01:03,430 --> 01:01:05,410
You have to push this chair back.

562
01:01:11,100 --> 01:01:11,440
Come here, bud.

563
01:01:16,840 --> 01:01:16,950
Come here, girl.

564
01:01:16,950 --> 01:01:17,520
Come on in here.

565
01:01:19,420 --> 01:01:19,760
All right.

566
01:01:22,360 --> 01:01:25,200
Good practice.

567
01:01:29,840 --> 01:01:30,070
Thank you.

568
01:01:30,070 --> 01:01:30,740
Thank you. Thank you.

569
01:01:33,390 --> 01:01:38,740
Congratulations.

570
01:01:38,920 --> 01:01:39,400
Yeah.

571
01:01:39,440 --> 01:01:40,240
Don't be a teacher.

572
01:01:40,920 --> 01:01:41,640
Oh, yeah.

573
01:01:44,020 --> 01:01:44,320
Good to see

574
01:01:45,240 --> 01:01:47,719
you.

575
01:01:48,380 --> 01:01:51,500
I can't find my agenda.

576
01:01:51,540 --> 01:01:52,460
What are you looking for?

577
01:01:52,500 --> 01:01:53,920
My agenda.

578
01:01:57,600 --> 01:02:00,940
Where's my agenda at? You haven't seen my agenda?

579
01:02:00,960 --> 01:02:01,600
There's one on me.

580
01:02:03,080 --> 01:02:04,220
Athens City Middle School.

581
01:02:05,260 --> 01:02:05,740
Is it right?

582
01:02:07,640 --> 01:02:08,240
Yes, that's it.

583
01:02:09,240 --> 01:02:10,440
Okay. So we're at-

584
01:02:10,620 --> 01:02:11,720
Athens City Middle School's next

585
01:02:16,680 --> 01:02:18,760
Okay, now we're going to Athens City Middle School.

586
01:02:20,480 --> 01:02:22,620
Principal Mr. Simmons, please.

587
01:02:23,740 --> 01:02:27,690
Greetings from Athens City Middle School and Athens City Schools, and

588
01:02:27,740 --> 01:02:30,100
we're glad to be here for our first of two visits.

589
01:02:30,840 --> 01:02:31,420
And so

590
01:02:33,340 --> 01:02:34,700
I have a young lady, one of our

591
01:02:36,460 --> 01:02:40,400
teachers, that's going to present something that's very special and very

592
01:02:40,460 --> 01:02:41,180
exciting. I

593
01:02:42,180 --> 01:02:46,040
would say that, and you probably will not be surprised at this,

594
01:02:46,160 --> 01:02:50,000
but the most competitive thing at Athens City Middle School is

595
01:02:50,040 --> 01:02:51,680
not the athletics.

596
01:02:52,560 --> 01:02:55,860
The biggest competitive thing is trying

597
01:02:55,940 --> 01:02:59,700
to get our students to love reading as

598
01:02:59,760 --> 01:03:01,340
much as they do their phones.

599
01:03:02,360 --> 01:03:06,200
Okay. That's the biggest competition we have, and we

600
01:03:06,240 --> 01:03:07,380
are working hard.

601
01:03:08,620 --> 01:03:12,460
And we've had a lot of students that have captured their

602
01:03:12,500 --> 01:03:16,320
love for reading, and once they capture a love for reading, the phone

603
01:03:16,380 --> 01:03:17,520
just can't measure up.

604
01:03:18,420 --> 01:03:22,200
So I have invited Mandy Million here, and she's going to

605
01:03:22,240 --> 01:03:23,279
talk a little bit about it.

606
01:03:24,720 --> 01:03:28,110
Council members, you got some information on the front, and on the back, there is

607
01:03:28,160 --> 01:03:32,140
some dates for you. Just as you know, we always want to invite you

608
01:03:32,180 --> 01:03:35,220
to come to anything we have at the middle school. Now for Mandy.

609
01:03:37,340 --> 01:03:38,840
I'm going to drop that. Oh.

610
01:03:40,100 --> 01:03:43,860
My name is Mandy Million. I've taught at Athens City Middle School for 20 years.

611
01:03:44,700 --> 01:03:46,260
January will start 21 for me.

612
01:03:47,360 --> 01:03:51,260
We've always had the Accelerated Reader Program, which has been fantastic for

613
01:03:51,320 --> 01:03:54,760
us. We used it for a short time as a grade.

614
01:03:55,920 --> 01:03:59,680
We tried to encourage students to read, and three years ago, Mr.

615
01:03:59,920 --> 01:04:03,760
Simmons came to me and said, "Let's change it up." So I said, "Okay, let's do

616
01:04:03,820 --> 01:04:07,080
it." So we developed a program that is

617
01:04:07,100 --> 01:04:10,460
incentive-based. And so kids love nothing more

618
01:04:10,840 --> 01:04:14,680
than a field trip. So what we did was we

619
01:04:14,720 --> 01:04:18,500
created a program our own, and we use Accelerated Reader to back it.

620
01:04:19,040 --> 01:04:23,020
So we started with four levels, the first level being a Light

621
01:04:23,040 --> 01:04:26,780
Reader. The first year it was you had to read 10 books.

622
01:04:27,440 --> 01:04:30,640
So which is not a huge feat, but for some, we wanted to make sure that all got the

623
01:04:30,680 --> 01:04:31,260
opportunity.

624
01:04:32,180 --> 01:04:35,660
The next was the Avid Reader. They had to read 15 books for the year.

625
01:04:36,380 --> 01:04:39,520
The third one was Committed Reader, which was 20 books.

626
01:04:39,940 --> 01:04:43,180
And our last one was the Obsessed Reader at 25 books.

627
01:04:44,460 --> 01:04:48,380
And that year, we served over 100 students that were able to go

628
01:04:48,420 --> 01:04:49,500
on all of those trips.

629
01:04:50,940 --> 01:04:54,920
Last year, the ELA department met in the summer and decided, let's change it to

630
01:04:54,980 --> 01:04:55,700
Words Read,

631
01:04:56,700 --> 01:05:00,660
which allows a little bit more of the lower levels, mid levels, high levels

632
01:05:00,720 --> 01:05:03,020
to all get the same opportunity.

633
01:05:03,880 --> 01:05:07,190
So last year, we sent over 100

634
01:05:07,220 --> 01:05:09,360
kids on our trips.

635
01:05:10,240 --> 01:05:14,020
The first one, the Light Reader, was 400,000 words read,

636
01:05:14,500 --> 01:05:17,760
and that was an extended day at Camp Utan and Oche, which they love.

637
01:05:18,820 --> 01:05:22,690
The next one was 800,000 words read, and that was to the movies, the

638
01:05:22,740 --> 01:05:24,720
local movies, and to Dairy Barn for lunch.

639
01:05:25,700 --> 01:05:29,520
The third one was 1.5 million words read, and we took them to

640
01:05:29,560 --> 01:05:33,370
Dave & Buster's for lunch and McKay's in Chattanooga with

641
01:05:33,380 --> 01:05:37,330
spending money. And then the Obsessed Reader was 2.25 million

642
01:05:37,380 --> 01:05:39,460
words read, and that was a trip to Dollywood.

643
01:05:42,660 --> 01:05:44,300
None of the students had to pay for anything.

644
01:05:44,960 --> 01:05:44,970
Wow.

645
01:05:44,980 --> 01:05:48,940
Mr. Simmons has been very, very good to us in the fact that he said, "If

646
01:05:49,000 --> 01:05:51,880
you can get them to read, I'll pay for it." So we did.

647
01:05:53,060 --> 01:05:57,010
We put up something in the beginning at the front of the school with their pictures

648
01:05:57,080 --> 01:06:00,970
on it when they reach a goal, and they travel along the road of

649
01:06:01,020 --> 01:06:01,740
success.

650
01:06:03,730 --> 01:06:06,640
We've spent thousands of dollars on brand-new books.

651
01:06:06,920 --> 01:06:09,700
We've taken polls of our students, "What are the books you want

652
01:06:09,740 --> 01:06:13,680
to read?" And we've made sure to put those on

653
01:06:13,700 --> 01:06:15,239
the shelves in our library.

654
01:06:16,280 --> 01:06:20,140
Last year, we did DEAR Time for 20 minutes read, and every student in

655
01:06:20,180 --> 01:06:21,359
our school had a book in their hand.

656
01:06:21,840 --> 01:06:24,960
It's on their level, they're interested in reading, and they want to do it.

657
01:06:25,740 --> 01:06:28,040
This last summer, we opened up summer reading.

658
01:06:28,500 --> 01:06:32,120
So in June, we have summer school, so students were allowed to come in on certain

659
01:06:32,140 --> 01:06:34,180
days and take AR tests through the summer.

660
01:06:34,220 --> 01:06:37,380
And then this summer, we did it as well through June and July.

661
01:06:37,800 --> 01:06:39,370
This year alone, we've already had

662
01:06:39,420 --> 01:06:43,060
18,603,111 words read.

663
01:06:44,800 --> 01:06:47,160
I want to introduce you to our top reader.

664
01:06:48,280 --> 01:06:50,960
She and another student last year read

665
01:06:52,960 --> 01:06:54,940
more words than I can account for.

666
01:06:55,880 --> 01:06:58,480
This one, Ms. Kinsley Durham, I want to introduce you to her.

667
01:06:58,620 --> 01:07:00,540
I have never seen a reader like her.

668
01:07:01,100 --> 01:07:04,900
She is a speed reader. She has, and I'm going to tell you, she read

669
01:07:05,220 --> 01:07:09,080
55 books this summer that were not on AR, so she couldn't take

670
01:07:09,120 --> 01:07:12,840
the test in order to earn it. So she has read because she loves to

671
01:07:12,900 --> 01:07:16,800
read, and that's what we want to provoke at our school is reading.

672
01:07:17,160 --> 01:07:19,040
So I'm going to introduce Kinsley Durham to you

673
01:07:21,150 --> 01:07:22,670
She's got some things to say.

674
01:07:26,130 --> 01:07:29,849
So, Dixie read over seven million words last year, I can tell you.

675
01:07:29,870 --> 01:07:29,880
God.

676
01:07:29,930 --> 01:07:33,090
She would know exactly how many.

677
01:07:33,130 --> 01:07:36,850
Accelerated Reader has impacted my life in unimaginable

678
01:07:36,890 --> 01:07:40,550
ways, whether it was through my education, relationships, or

679
01:07:40,610 --> 01:07:44,410
personal growth. Without the AR-induced motivation to

680
01:07:44,490 --> 01:07:48,250
read, I would not have realized the impact reading can have on an

681
01:07:48,390 --> 01:07:52,270
individual. Reading is informational, emotional, and personal,

682
01:07:52,420 --> 01:07:54,030
therefore extremely powerful.

683
01:07:54,870 --> 01:07:58,830
AR brings a sense of confidence and completion into my life, of

684
01:07:58,850 --> 01:08:02,290
which I continue to be astonished as to how valuable and

685
01:08:02,750 --> 01:08:05,090
influential that is to my education journey.

686
01:08:05,670 --> 01:08:09,210
I could not be successful in school without the guide reading sustains.

687
01:08:09,710 --> 01:08:13,630
For example, my vocabulary is much higher than if I had not

688
01:08:13,690 --> 01:08:15,870
had the Accelerated Reader experience.

689
01:08:16,771 --> 01:08:20,490
In addition, my comprehension has improved tremendously as a

690
01:08:20,510 --> 01:08:23,750
result of reading various and diverse genres.

691
01:08:23,830 --> 01:08:27,471
Furthermore, the speed of my reading has increased due to the

692
01:08:27,490 --> 01:08:29,891
increasing number of books I've read throughout the year.

693
01:08:30,990 --> 01:08:34,971
All of these major components of reading are addressed through my participation

694
01:08:35,070 --> 01:08:36,250
in the AR program.

695
01:08:37,170 --> 01:08:41,030
Relationships is not an area that one would expect AR to impact.

696
01:08:41,570 --> 01:08:45,260
However, I have seen firsthand situations where it has been a vital

697
01:08:45,290 --> 01:08:49,110
factor. For instance, conversations with adults have proven to be quite

698
01:08:49,150 --> 01:08:53,130
difficult, no matter what the topic consists of, and yet I have seen how

699
01:08:53,170 --> 01:08:56,931
reading has improved my choice of words in social situations.

700
01:08:57,510 --> 01:09:01,080
Reading has broadened my knowledge base so that I can discuss topics with many

701
01:09:01,190 --> 01:09:03,790
people at different levels of difficulty.

702
01:09:03,851 --> 01:09:07,590
Knowing about different subjects has led to more relationships with a wider

703
01:09:07,690 --> 01:09:11,590
variety of ages. I now have commonality with many others that I would

704
01:09:11,650 --> 01:09:15,351
not have had if not for the motivational factor of the Accelerated

705
01:09:15,431 --> 01:09:16,330
Reader program.

706
01:09:17,351 --> 01:09:20,590
AR has also contributed to growth on a personal level.

707
01:09:20,630 --> 01:09:24,471
There is a sense of accomplishment after completing hundreds of AR tests with near

708
01:09:24,630 --> 01:09:28,460
100% accuracy. The sense of accomplishment inspires me and

709
01:09:28,550 --> 01:09:31,431
pushes me to do more in other areas of my life.

710
01:09:32,110 --> 01:09:36,090
The sense of accomplishment I get from Accelerated Reader makes it easier

711
01:09:36,210 --> 01:09:39,351
to continue when my first attempts are not always successful.

712
01:09:39,990 --> 01:09:43,630
This is evident through my participation in sports, academics, and

713
01:09:43,710 --> 01:09:47,561
performances. Personal growth also equates with higher levels of

714
01:09:47,590 --> 01:09:51,290
maturity. I have seen this through my ability to resolve personal

715
01:09:51,330 --> 01:09:53,021
conflicts in a more mature manner.

716
01:09:53,960 --> 01:09:57,580
Through reading, I have seen many examples of how people have resolved

717
01:09:57,670 --> 01:10:00,430
conflicts in a positive or negative way.

718
01:10:00,970 --> 01:10:04,370
I choose to learn from this and create positive avenues of

719
01:10:04,410 --> 01:10:08,190
resolution. Personal growth has been an unexpected evolution of

720
01:10:08,210 --> 01:10:09,890
my journey through the AR program.

721
01:10:10,750 --> 01:10:14,730
The purpose of the AR program is to encourage students to read more and increase

722
01:10:14,750 --> 01:10:18,370
the complexity of the material. Even though this does occur,

723
01:10:18,810 --> 01:10:22,050
I have personally experienced even greater benefits.

724
01:10:22,130 --> 01:10:25,830
As stated, my fluency and comprehension have improved, as well as my

725
01:10:25,950 --> 01:10:29,700
general knowledge. I have learned about different cultures, religions, and

726
01:10:29,790 --> 01:10:33,550
family dynamics, along with many interesting and unusual facts.

727
01:10:33,930 --> 01:10:36,710
Through all of this, I have grown and matured as a person.

728
01:10:37,170 --> 01:10:41,150
In other words, the Accelerated Reader program has opened my eyes to a whole

729
01:10:41,210 --> 01:10:41,710
new world.

730
01:10:43,550 --> 01:10:45,430
Ms. McKeassey. Ms. McKeassey.

731
01:10:47,670 --> 01:10:50,670
I want all y'all to come down here and take a picture with her, please.

732
01:10:50,690 --> 01:10:53,110
I want all the city council to come out and take a picture with her.

733
01:10:53,170 --> 01:10:55,090
I just want to say, that was very well-written.

734
01:10:56,090 --> 01:10:57,150
That was very well-written.

735
01:10:58,890 --> 01:11:00,450
Very humbling what you just said.

736
01:11:00,510 --> 01:11:02,350
Yeah, very well-written. I enjoyed that.

737
01:11:03,050 --> 01:11:03,430
Here you go.

738
01:11:04,260 --> 01:11:06,350
You got it too, okay? I want to take a picture with you.

739
01:11:07,210 --> 01:11:08,070
I do appreciate you.

740
01:11:09,790 --> 01:11:10,050
Ready?

741
01:11:12,250 --> 01:11:13,470
You got to wait for this old man.

742
01:11:14,420 --> 01:11:15,430
I can't get around with

743
01:11:17,350 --> 01:11:18,850
that.

744
01:11:21,330 --> 01:11:23,070
Hey, thank you very much. I appreciate you.

745
01:11:23,090 --> 01:11:24,030
Congratulations.

746
01:11:31,770 --> 01:11:35,470
We appreciate the council, and I hope it encourages you to know that your

747
01:11:35,530 --> 01:11:39,210
support of Athens City Schools is why we can do these kinds of things.

748
01:11:39,250 --> 01:11:40,610
We really appreciate it.

749
01:11:40,629 --> 01:11:41,360
Thank you for doing this.

750
01:11:41,370 --> 01:11:45,270
Mr. Sammons, I really appreciate everything you do for the kids, and I

751
01:11:45,290 --> 01:11:49,130
personally know because you had my kids, so I do appreciate you.

752
01:11:54,870 --> 01:11:57,730
Awesome reading.

753
01:11:58,910 --> 01:12:01,410
Okay, line item D, Jack Hedrick.

754
01:12:07,370 --> 01:12:08,350
Amazing. This is

755
01:12:08,370 --> 01:12:16,310
amazing.

756
01:12:17,670 --> 01:12:21,330
Good evening, everyone. My name is Jack Hedrick, and

757
01:12:21,430 --> 01:12:24,990
I am a student at Tennessee Wesleyan, but I am also

758
01:12:25,550 --> 01:12:27,170
an intern at Simmons Bank.

759
01:12:28,550 --> 01:12:32,350
Today I'm here to tell you all about a partnered

760
01:12:32,390 --> 01:12:35,690
initiative between Simmons Bank and Tennessee Wesleyan

761
01:12:35,990 --> 01:12:37,530
called the

762
01:12:39,370 --> 01:12:40,470
Red Sand Project.

763
01:12:41,530 --> 01:12:43,710
What is this Red Sand Project I'm speaking about?

764
01:12:45,250 --> 01:12:48,450
Well, it's an art installation created by Molly

765
01:12:48,470 --> 01:12:51,430
Goochman that raises awareness about human trafficking.

766
01:12:52,710 --> 01:12:53,210
Essentially,

767
01:12:54,190 --> 01:12:58,030
participants will pour red sand into cracks of concrete

768
01:12:58,430 --> 01:13:01,370
in order to raise awareness for human trafficking.

769
01:13:03,030 --> 01:13:05,250
And I know how it sounds, it's a little weird,

770
01:13:06,190 --> 01:13:10,150
pouring sand on the ground for such a big issue like human trafficking,

771
01:13:11,710 --> 01:13:15,510
but the importance of the initiative is not the sand

772
01:13:16,190 --> 01:13:20,170
or even the cracks in the concrete, but rather what the cracks in the

773
01:13:20,210 --> 01:13:22,440
concrete and the red sand represents

774
01:13:24,242 --> 01:13:25,302
Talking to the council,

775
01:13:26,222 --> 01:13:30,202
I can say, and I can bet that you guys have heard

776
01:13:30,302 --> 01:13:32,882
over and over about cracks in concrete, potholes,

777
01:13:33,942 --> 01:13:34,542
whatnot.

778
01:13:36,122 --> 01:13:39,122
But cracks in concrete are not what we think about

779
01:13:39,902 --> 01:13:41,882
before we go to bed, or

780
01:13:42,722 --> 01:13:45,842
even from a week-to-week basis. There's something that

781
01:13:48,622 --> 01:13:50,302
just don't take priority in our life.

782
01:13:51,302 --> 01:13:54,862
And the things that do take priority may be football,

783
01:13:55,442 --> 01:13:57,022
Tennessee football,

784
01:13:58,022 --> 01:13:59,112
work, family,

785
01:14:00,082 --> 01:14:01,262
things that are pertaining to us.

786
01:14:03,642 --> 01:14:03,862
But

787
01:14:05,662 --> 01:14:08,802
all of us, and I mean everyone in this room, and some of you may have

788
01:14:08,842 --> 01:14:12,002
even fallen over a crack in the ground on the way here.

789
01:14:12,282 --> 01:14:14,142
I hope not. But

790
01:14:15,862 --> 01:14:19,222
all of us step over cracks in concrete every day.

791
01:14:19,282 --> 01:14:20,042
Every single one of us.

792
01:14:22,502 --> 01:14:26,342
So the Red Sand Project is essentially saying that the victims of

793
01:14:26,382 --> 01:14:30,142
human trafficking represent the cracks in the concrete that we

794
01:14:30,222 --> 01:14:31,742
walk over daily.

795
01:14:33,702 --> 01:14:34,022
And

796
01:14:34,922 --> 01:14:37,892
this may seem like an issue that Tennessee may not deal with,

797
01:14:38,782 --> 01:14:40,402
maybe a more secular state.

798
01:14:41,702 --> 01:14:45,302
But statistically speaking, Tennessee ranks ninth,

799
01:14:46,182 --> 01:14:46,942
according to

800
01:14:47,882 --> 01:14:51,502
a study done by the National Human Trafficking Hotline,

801
01:14:52,122 --> 01:14:54,002
Tennessee in 2024 ranked ninth

802
01:14:55,722 --> 01:14:57,182
in reported human trafficking

803
01:14:57,262 --> 01:14:59,782
cases.

804
01:15:02,342 --> 01:15:03,522
That is a sobering reality.

805
01:15:05,322 --> 01:15:08,182
And this gets to the Red Sand piece of the Red Sand

806
01:15:08,192 --> 01:15:12,112
Project. These cracks in the concrete,

807
01:15:14,262 --> 01:15:15,672
when I'm talking about people walking over them,

808
01:15:16,662 --> 01:15:17,722
something is necessary

809
01:15:18,882 --> 01:15:22,262
for there to be some type of illumination

810
01:15:22,322 --> 01:15:26,062
or a way for us to look down at the ground, at the

811
01:15:26,102 --> 01:15:26,622
victims,

812
01:15:27,782 --> 01:15:29,002
and the problems

813
01:15:29,862 --> 01:15:33,481
surrounding why things like human trafficking happen.

814
01:15:34,822 --> 01:15:38,092
So on September 22nd at 11:00 a.m.

815
01:15:38,822 --> 01:15:40,242
at Tennessee Wesleyan University,

816
01:15:41,182 --> 01:15:44,782
I have the address memorized, but I don't know if you guys are taking notes to have

817
01:15:44,822 --> 01:15:45,522
that down. But

818
01:15:47,022 --> 01:15:48,662
we will be pouring red sand

819
01:15:49,602 --> 01:15:51,042
on cracks in the concrete.

820
01:15:52,022 --> 01:15:55,801
And not just to look down at the cracks and to

821
01:15:55,922 --> 01:15:57,931
think about these victims, but to also

822
01:15:59,642 --> 01:16:03,602
think of solutions to issues like human trafficking and

823
01:16:03,642 --> 01:16:04,422
problems as such.

824
01:16:07,382 --> 01:16:10,222
So on the behalf of Tennessee Wesleyan students, as I can say,

825
01:16:11,462 --> 01:16:12,842
and on behalf of Simmons Bank,

826
01:16:14,222 --> 01:16:17,762
we wanted to invite everyone in the council to September

827
01:16:17,902 --> 01:16:19,062
22nd, 11:00 a.m.,

828
01:16:20,082 --> 01:16:22,771
the Red Sand Project, in order to honor

829
01:16:23,762 --> 01:16:25,782
and spread awareness about human trafficking.

830
01:16:26,582 --> 01:16:30,322
But not just the council members, but the people of Athens.

831
01:16:30,362 --> 01:16:32,102
This isn't an invite-only.

832
01:16:32,922 --> 01:16:33,722
No one is above

833
01:16:34,602 --> 01:16:36,032
spreading awareness for human trafficking.

834
01:16:36,782 --> 01:16:38,812
So if you're able

835
01:16:39,962 --> 01:16:43,892
to pour red sand on the ground and to speak about

836
01:16:44,322 --> 01:16:46,542
hard issues like that, then we would love to have you.

837
01:16:48,002 --> 01:16:48,302
Thank you.

838
01:16:49,842 --> 01:16:51,522
Where at on September the 22nd?

839
01:16:51,562 --> 01:16:52,842
It's going to be...

840
01:16:53,002 --> 01:16:54,722
There you go.

841
01:16:54,902 --> 01:16:55,582
It's at

842
01:16:56,542 --> 01:16:59,362
Tennessee Wesleyan in the quad, so in front of Old College.

843
01:17:00,662 --> 01:17:04,522
Like I said, I have the address memorized, but it's really right

844
01:17:04,562 --> 01:17:04,982
down the way.

845
01:17:07,022 --> 01:17:07,832
Thank you, Mr. Hedrick.

846
01:17:07,902 --> 01:17:08,222
Thank you.

847
01:17:09,722 --> 01:17:10,062
Thank you.

848
01:17:15,202 --> 01:17:15,982
One thing that

849
01:17:17,262 --> 01:17:17,842
Councilman

850
01:17:18,802 --> 01:17:21,952
Perry McCown's asked me to bring up was the Cook Park parking

851
01:17:22,062 --> 01:17:25,632
update. Do we have an update that we can

852
01:17:25,702 --> 01:17:29,032
have, or do we need to have it sent out?

853
01:17:29,822 --> 01:17:33,162
They are working on it now. I can have an email sent out with the

854
01:17:33,202 --> 01:17:36,382
exact point, but they are working on it.

855
01:17:36,622 --> 01:17:40,422
Okay. So they're working on it, but they're going to send an

856
01:17:40,502 --> 01:17:43,101
email out to confirm everything.

857
01:17:43,202 --> 01:17:44,242
Yeah. Okay.

858
01:17:46,562 --> 01:17:47,702
All right. Okay.

859
01:17:50,702 --> 01:17:51,062
All right.

860
01:17:52,422 --> 01:17:55,182
So next is citizens germane to the agenda,

861
01:17:56,042 --> 01:17:58,802
and the first one is Ms. Luxmore. Anna Luxmore.

862
01:18:02,642 --> 01:18:05,422
I'm here to support my neighborhood senior center.

863
01:18:06,302 --> 01:18:09,102
I was asked on the fly by the director, Crystal Miller-

864
01:18:09,422 --> 01:18:10,782
Can you come up here, please?

865
01:18:12,042 --> 01:18:12,592
Oh, sure.

866
01:18:12,602 --> 01:18:13,642
I won't have you in front of the speaker.

867
01:18:22,242 --> 01:18:24,411
I'm not sure how all that process works,

868
01:18:25,222 --> 01:18:29,032
but I'm an investigator with the Tennessee Adult Protective Services,

869
01:18:29,902 --> 01:18:33,802
and I am assigned to McMinn County, so I see the ins and outs of this county

870
01:18:33,842 --> 01:18:37,262
and this city every single day. It's heartbreaking.

871
01:18:38,322 --> 01:18:40,842
Oftentimes, it's not a happy ending.

872
01:18:41,082 --> 01:18:42,562
I don't get very many of those.

873
01:18:43,462 --> 01:18:43,822
But

874
01:18:44,942 --> 01:18:48,922
when I have a need, it's the people like Crystal and the senior center,

875
01:18:49,002 --> 01:18:51,862
her crew at the senior center, they feel it every time.

876
01:18:51,982 --> 01:18:55,102
If I have somebody that needs food, I call Crystal.

877
01:18:55,602 --> 01:18:57,742
I'm working on services, Meals on Wheels.

878
01:18:58,182 --> 01:19:00,702
All of those things take time to get put in place.

879
01:19:01,102 --> 01:19:04,342
In the meantime, you've got somebody can't get out of their house, that

880
01:19:04,942 --> 01:19:08,582
they have no access to food. So I give Crystal a call,

881
01:19:09,522 --> 01:19:13,282
her crew up there as well. Any of them, if I call up there, she'll

882
01:19:14,182 --> 01:19:16,702
come running or she'll tell me to come up there.

883
01:19:17,022 --> 01:19:19,682
She's helped out quite a few folks.

884
01:19:21,322 --> 01:19:24,372
Quite a few. I can't even count them on all my fingers and toes.

885
01:19:25,482 --> 01:19:27,222
It's a good group up there right now.

886
01:19:27,382 --> 01:19:29,622
I think they're doing a lot of rebuilding.

887
01:19:29,642 --> 01:19:33,432
They've been a lot more involved in the last few years

888
01:19:33,802 --> 01:19:37,602
than I've ever seen them before, and that's refreshing, and it's

889
01:19:37,642 --> 01:19:41,522
nice to have. I see a lot of the folks going up there,

890
01:19:41,822 --> 01:19:45,382
and they're involved. So it's because of

891
01:19:45,522 --> 01:19:49,382
Crystal and her group up there at the senior center that I

892
01:19:49,462 --> 01:19:49,902
have

893
01:19:51,402 --> 01:19:55,382
less bodies to pull out of a home when I go to visit, and that happened today.

894
01:19:56,142 --> 01:19:57,682
It's a very sobering event.

895
01:19:59,082 --> 01:20:02,902
But because of the help from these folks, it is very important,

896
01:20:03,422 --> 01:20:07,362
and I think it's crucial to our community that it continues to

897
01:20:07,402 --> 01:20:09,242
exist and gets the funding that they need.

898
01:20:10,662 --> 01:20:10,962
Thank you.

899
01:20:11,482 --> 01:20:12,182
Thank you very much.

900
01:20:16,742 --> 01:20:20,022
I will say this about Ms. St. Lexmore, I know she does a lot of good work.

901
01:20:20,142 --> 01:20:23,442
I personally have seen this, personally.

902
01:20:23,942 --> 01:20:24,422
Gwen Whiting.

903
01:20:26,342 --> 01:20:29,802
I want to talk about the grant that you're asking for more money.

904
01:20:30,332 --> 01:20:32,342
That grant started in 2023,

905
01:20:33,342 --> 01:20:36,482
and we waited till September. Now, the last month that it can be

906
01:20:37,042 --> 01:20:39,882
fulfilled, we're waiting now to try to ask for more money.

907
01:20:40,462 --> 01:20:44,402
If we had done the project in 2023, would it be this much money?

908
01:20:44,522 --> 01:20:46,002
Because things were cheaper back then.

909
01:20:46,162 --> 01:20:50,082
But now we wait till last minute, and waiting last minute

910
01:20:50,122 --> 01:20:51,622
has caused not just the money,

911
01:20:52,462 --> 01:20:56,372
we canceled a ladies event to get into the park and say, "Well, we can't let

912
01:20:56,462 --> 01:20:59,892
you in because we're now doing what we should've done in 2023."

913
01:21:00,642 --> 01:21:04,122
And that led to a major black eye on the city.

914
01:21:04,202 --> 01:21:07,962
But we got a further black eye because now we're saying we want more money

915
01:21:07,982 --> 01:21:10,302
because we didn't do our job back when we should have.

916
01:21:11,102 --> 01:21:14,382
And that's just poor planning. And

917
01:21:15,682 --> 01:21:19,462
the question comes in, how much more would it have cost us if we'd done the job at

918
01:21:19,502 --> 01:21:22,242
the time? And so that's the first thing.

919
01:21:22,262 --> 01:21:25,942
And like I say, the management to cancel a ladies event

920
01:21:26,022 --> 01:21:29,922
because we didn't have the money or we didn't do the job, that's unacceptable.

921
01:21:29,962 --> 01:21:32,692
That should never come before the council to start with.

922
01:21:32,742 --> 01:21:36,062
Should never have happened, period, and it happens because of the planning.

923
01:21:36,102 --> 01:21:39,182
And this money is being asked for because of poor planning.

924
01:21:39,702 --> 01:21:42,702
Now, the other issue is the handbook. Want to redo the handbook.

925
01:21:43,202 --> 01:21:45,902
Some of you made a promise to do that when you campaigned last time.

926
01:21:45,942 --> 01:21:49,482
Is this another campaign promise? But what's wrong with the handbook?

927
01:21:49,922 --> 01:21:50,882
Well, we don't follow it.

928
01:21:51,722 --> 01:21:53,002
In fact, we have the

929
01:21:53,902 --> 01:21:56,042
orgy issue over at the police department, and we said

930
01:21:57,422 --> 01:22:01,182
we don't investigate that. And yet the handbook says there's zero

931
01:22:01,242 --> 01:22:05,122
tolerance for anything, and yet we have documentation

932
01:22:05,162 --> 01:22:09,102
to show that an officer, a female officer, complained about the

933
01:22:09,162 --> 01:22:12,602
harassment she was taking, and Nina destroyed that evidence.

934
01:22:13,142 --> 01:22:16,342
We don't care about that. She openly said on the record,

935
01:22:16,482 --> 01:22:20,282
in a trial, she shredded the documents.

936
01:22:20,962 --> 01:22:24,502
She had lied and said that she did investigate it in a federal court, and then she

937
01:22:24,542 --> 01:22:28,162
said, "I didn't investigate it there." So why do we have to change a handbook if

938
01:22:28,182 --> 01:22:31,862
we're not going to follow it? It also says that complaints have to be followed.

939
01:22:32,342 --> 01:22:35,722
It says if a citizen makes a complaint, it's to be looked into.

940
01:22:36,302 --> 01:22:40,202
None of them are looked into. So we ought to just have Nina shred

941
01:22:40,212 --> 01:22:44,012
the handbook. We don't follow it. We only

942
01:22:44,042 --> 01:22:47,962
follow complaints only if it offends somebody on this council.

943
01:22:48,002 --> 01:22:50,882
If the mayor has a complaint, he'll have it investigated.

944
01:22:51,602 --> 01:22:55,562
But any other complaint, when he tells citizens to F off and calls them

945
01:22:55,642 --> 01:22:57,542
names, we don't investigate that.

946
01:22:58,482 --> 01:23:00,102
That's acceptable. So

947
01:23:01,422 --> 01:23:05,262
other than trying to campaign, why are we changing a handbook that we have no

948
01:23:05,402 --> 01:23:06,902
interest in following anyways?

949
01:23:07,762 --> 01:23:08,142
Thank you.

950
01:23:08,702 --> 01:23:08,982
Thank you.

951
01:23:13,522 --> 01:23:14,702
Ms. Brooks, Debbie Brooks.

952
01:23:18,462 --> 01:23:19,162
Okay, you've been-- okay.

953
01:23:23,722 --> 01:23:25,002
Jason Wright?

954
01:23:25,662 --> 01:23:26,441
He's not.

955
01:23:27,182 --> 01:23:30,242
Oh, he's not. I apologize. Okay, well, that's all that's germane to the agenda.

956
01:23:31,182 --> 01:23:32,222
We'll go to the consent-

957
01:23:40,662 --> 01:23:41,321
Yeah, okay.

958
01:23:42,242 --> 01:23:42,821
Ms. Brooks.

959
01:23:45,622 --> 01:23:48,961
Now, we're voting on probably the things that you're going to be talking about.

960
01:23:58,242 --> 01:24:01,772
Like I said in the workshop that we had a week ago, my name is Debbie Brooks, and

961
01:24:01,802 --> 01:24:04,342
I've been a volunteer at the senior center for 11 years.

962
01:24:05,282 --> 01:24:05,462
So

963
01:24:06,762 --> 01:24:10,742
my mom passed away in 2017. My

964
01:24:10,822 --> 01:24:12,722
dad passed away in 2014.

965
01:24:13,582 --> 01:24:17,482
We had taken my mom to the senior center for the gospel music on Tuesday mornings

966
01:24:17,522 --> 01:24:19,562
and stuff. She loved gospel music, stuff like that.

967
01:24:20,262 --> 01:24:24,242
So anyway, after my mom's passing, we went ahead, and

968
01:24:24,252 --> 01:24:28,202
the friends encouraged me there to go ahead and volunteer in the senior center like

969
01:24:28,262 --> 01:24:32,192
that. So I'd attend the Tuesday morning gospel singing on Tuesday morning, and

970
01:24:32,242 --> 01:24:35,312
I would go ahead and help with the craft room projects on Wednesday morning and

971
01:24:35,402 --> 01:24:35,622
stuff.

972
01:24:36,502 --> 01:24:40,362
In the past few years, I was asked to be the acquired chairman on Tuesday

973
01:24:40,422 --> 01:24:44,322
mornings to inform the people of different events happening around the center.

974
01:24:44,962 --> 01:24:47,282
I volunteered in three First Look Yard Sales.

975
01:24:47,802 --> 01:24:51,662
We actually had First Look Yard Sales because we wanted to give the people that

976
01:24:51,702 --> 01:24:55,612
come there every day a chance to look at the yard sale items before we invited the

977
01:24:55,642 --> 01:24:59,422
public in. So that gave them time to look at the stuff and everything,

978
01:24:59,462 --> 01:25:03,082
and we just finished our first week of yard sale, and we made almost

979
01:25:03,102 --> 01:25:06,662
$900 out of about eight days. For two hours a

980
01:25:06,742 --> 01:25:09,822
day for about eight days, we made about $900 for the senior center.

981
01:25:09,922 --> 01:25:10,062
So

982
01:25:12,622 --> 01:25:16,242
participated in four annual yard sales, craft projects,

983
01:25:16,322 --> 01:25:20,262
Christmas tree decorating, and cleaning and

984
01:25:20,342 --> 01:25:22,022
organizing the storage shed like that.

985
01:25:23,122 --> 01:25:26,102
And now I play the piano at the gospel singing some.

986
01:25:26,322 --> 01:25:30,222
We also have Shirley Dingess plays the piano, and Janet Valentine plays

987
01:25:30,282 --> 01:25:30,862
the piano

988
01:25:31,430 --> 01:25:34,690
I also, when I have inquiry, I call the people

989
01:25:34,750 --> 01:25:38,650
individually. Takes me about two and a half hours to call them

990
01:25:38,730 --> 01:25:41,130
and do wellness checks on them if I haven't seen them for a while.

991
01:25:41,240 --> 01:25:43,230
I say, "Oh, you doing okay? You need anything?" Or whatever.

992
01:25:43,530 --> 01:25:45,470
I check on the seniors and stuff like that with them,

993
01:25:46,750 --> 01:25:50,690
everything. We provide special music books at my cost, because I

994
01:25:51,010 --> 01:25:54,750
ate all the cost on that one, the black books with some special music in it.

995
01:25:54,830 --> 01:25:58,690
So we not only use the redback church hymnal, but we also use the special

996
01:25:58,750 --> 01:26:02,490
music and stuff from older music that the

997
01:26:02,550 --> 01:26:06,110
elderly would know the music from that there.

998
01:26:06,590 --> 01:26:10,490
The choir donated money to buy our new church hymnals and have the piano

999
01:26:10,510 --> 01:26:11,570
tuned, like that.

1000
01:26:13,110 --> 01:26:14,770
The senior center's meant a lot to me.

1001
01:26:15,510 --> 01:26:19,100
I would like to ask for increase in funding, which would help us so much.

1002
01:26:20,010 --> 01:26:22,330
Our regular funding from the City of Athens was

1003
01:26:22,340 --> 01:26:25,730
$22,000. Last year, the funding was cut

1004
01:26:25,770 --> 01:26:28,330
10%, which was about $2,200.

1005
01:26:29,370 --> 01:26:33,100
This directly affects some of our crucial programming as the

1006
01:26:33,150 --> 01:26:37,070
wellness, nutrition, and our senior advocacy program, which provides

1007
01:26:37,090 --> 01:26:38,070
help in dire needs.

1008
01:26:39,130 --> 01:26:42,290
The girl was talking earlier, and I think she was involved.

1009
01:26:43,970 --> 01:26:47,730
I was sitting there one day as a greeter, and we had this lady pull up in this

1010
01:26:47,770 --> 01:26:51,510
van, and she dropped off these two people and got all these plastic

1011
01:26:51,590 --> 01:26:54,830
bags. And we're sitting there looking, "What in the world's going on?"

1012
01:26:56,010 --> 01:26:59,890
And she had got tired of them being in her apartment, so as far as

1013
01:26:59,990 --> 01:27:02,110
I know, they were put out in our parking lot.

1014
01:27:03,130 --> 01:27:06,970
So we're sitting there going, "Okay." So we worked with the lady, and

1015
01:27:07,450 --> 01:27:11,350
I think it was late back there, and everything, found them housing for the weekend

1016
01:27:11,450 --> 01:27:13,770
and stuff like that, so that they would have somewhere, and they wouldn't be

1017
01:27:13,830 --> 01:27:15,550
spending the night in the cold and stuff like that.

1018
01:27:15,990 --> 01:27:16,610
But it took

1019
01:27:18,490 --> 01:27:18,750
the

1020
01:27:20,690 --> 01:27:24,430
keen eye to go ahead and see this

1021
01:27:24,470 --> 01:27:27,230
happening and stuff like that. So we are there to help the senior center.

1022
01:27:27,670 --> 01:27:30,190
Can I ask a question?

1023
01:27:30,250 --> 01:27:31,270
Yes.

1024
01:27:31,330 --> 01:27:34,470
If the people here that support the senior center, if they will stand, I would

1025
01:27:34,490 --> 01:27:35,150
appreciate it.

1026
01:27:38,310 --> 01:27:42,189
This is all volunteers and people that come to the

1027
01:27:42,210 --> 01:27:46,160
senior center and everything, and I mentioned it today, and

1028
01:27:46,210 --> 01:27:47,270
this is how many showed up.

1029
01:27:48,190 --> 01:27:50,310
Thank you very much. I appreciate your time. Thank you.

1030
01:27:57,830 --> 01:28:00,550
Okay, that's all germane to the agenda.

1031
01:28:00,560 --> 01:28:04,370
Appreciate each one of you all. Can we go on to the consent agenda,

1032
01:28:04,430 --> 01:28:06,270
please? Ms. Massey, please. Ms. White.

1033
01:28:07,190 --> 01:28:07,890
Item A,

1034
01:28:08,950 --> 01:28:11,770
award bid RFB number

1035
01:28:12,150 --> 01:28:16,070
26-05 to Outdoor Solutions

1036
01:28:16,170 --> 01:28:20,039
Services LLC for the demolition and clearing of

1037
01:28:20,150 --> 01:28:24,090
condemned structures at 1506 Adam Street,

1038
01:28:24,850 --> 01:28:28,530
704 Haley Street, and 1504 View

1039
01:28:28,710 --> 01:28:32,690
Street. Bid amount $18,035.

1040
01:28:34,070 --> 01:28:37,930
Item B, declare as surplus property and

1041
01:28:38,090 --> 01:28:41,010
authorize the sale of each through GovDeals.

1042
01:28:41,630 --> 01:28:44,770
1994 John Deere Flail Mower,

1043
01:28:45,230 --> 01:28:47,730
asset number 2551.

1044
01:28:48,430 --> 01:28:52,090
1997 John Deere 5300

1045
01:28:52,130 --> 01:28:55,710
Tractor, asset number 2757.

1046
01:28:56,430 --> 01:29:00,190
1998 John Deere Gator, asset

1047
01:29:00,390 --> 01:29:02,500
number 2871.

1048
01:29:03,390 --> 01:29:07,170
2002 Bannerman Top Dresser, asset

1049
01:29:07,250 --> 01:29:11,190
number 3299. 2003

1050
01:29:11,650 --> 01:29:15,630
Toro 5500 Reel Mower, asset number

1051
01:29:15,930 --> 01:29:17,370
3404.

1052
01:29:18,350 --> 01:29:21,870
2015 Snapper Pro Zero Turn Mower,

1053
01:29:22,210 --> 01:29:25,600
asset number 4243, and a

1054
01:29:25,630 --> 01:29:28,550
12-foot ramp trailer, asset number

1055
01:29:28,790 --> 01:29:29,950
594.

1056
01:29:31,290 --> 01:29:35,110
Item C, declare as surplus property a

1057
01:29:35,170 --> 01:29:39,030
Hallmark tandem axle trailer, asset number

1058
01:29:39,450 --> 01:29:43,410
001338, and authorize its

1059
01:29:43,490 --> 01:29:45,190
sale through GovDeals.

1060
01:29:46,230 --> 01:29:46,950
Item D,

1061
01:29:47,789 --> 01:29:51,470
approve the purchase from the fleet fund the following fleet

1062
01:29:51,609 --> 01:29:55,410
replacement vehicles for public works department

1063
01:29:55,430 --> 01:29:59,410
from Ford of Murfreesboro via statewide contract

1064
01:29:59,930 --> 01:30:03,060
SWC-209, number

1065
01:30:03,370 --> 01:30:06,850
88762. Three Ford

1066
01:30:06,890 --> 01:30:10,630
diesel F550 trucks with rear dump

1067
01:30:10,710 --> 01:30:11,570
beds for

1068
01:30:11,580 --> 01:30:16,030
$274,965.

1069
01:30:17,370 --> 01:30:21,230
One Ford F250 with dump body for

1070
01:30:21,250 --> 01:30:24,310
$74,607,

1071
01:30:25,390 --> 01:30:29,190
and one Ford F150 crew cab for

1072
01:30:29,210 --> 01:30:32,470
$45,972.

1073
01:30:34,210 --> 01:30:35,090
Item E,

1074
01:30:35,930 --> 01:30:39,850
approve the purchase from the sanitation fund the following

1075
01:30:40,010 --> 01:30:43,510
fleet replacement vehicle for public works department

1076
01:30:43,990 --> 01:30:47,370
from Ford of Murfreesboro via statewide contract

1077
01:30:47,910 --> 01:30:51,170
SWC-209, number

1078
01:30:51,470 --> 01:30:54,710
88762. One Ford

1079
01:30:55,030 --> 01:30:57,290
F150 crew cab for

1080
01:30:57,330 --> 01:31:00,650
$45,972.

1081
01:31:03,190 --> 01:31:07,110
Item F, declare as surplus property

1082
01:31:07,120 --> 01:31:09,990
and authorize each item to be sold through

1083
01:31:10,030 --> 01:31:13,860
GovDeals after the replacement vehicle is put into

1084
01:31:14,030 --> 01:31:14,550
service.

1085
01:31:15,390 --> 01:31:19,230
Ford F150 street cleaning truck, asset

1086
01:31:19,330 --> 01:31:22,690
number 4306. Ford

1087
01:31:22,990 --> 01:31:26,730
F350 street maintenance truck, asset number

1088
01:31:27,170 --> 01:31:28,910
4308.

1089
01:31:29,710 --> 01:31:33,350
Ford F350 street maintenance truck, asset

1090
01:31:33,430 --> 01:31:35,470
number 4319.

1091
01:31:36,322 --> 01:31:39,742
Ford F-350 street construction vehicle,

1092
01:31:40,362 --> 01:31:44,202
asset number 4320. Ford

1093
01:31:44,502 --> 01:31:48,462
F-250 street cleaning vehicle, asset number

1094
01:31:48,882 --> 01:31:52,842
4314, with dump bed asset number

1095
01:31:53,222 --> 01:31:57,182
4321. And Ford F-350

1096
01:31:57,242 --> 01:32:00,342
truck sanitation vehicle, asset number

1097
01:32:00,722 --> 01:32:02,242
4326.

1098
01:32:03,622 --> 01:32:04,502
Item G:

1099
01:32:05,422 --> 01:32:07,002
Approve resolution

1100
01:32:07,622 --> 01:32:11,512
2026-24, a resolution of the

1101
01:32:11,642 --> 01:32:14,892
City of Athens, Tennessee, authorizing the

1102
01:32:14,962 --> 01:32:17,382
acceptance of the donation of a

1103
01:32:17,422 --> 01:32:21,042
1925 American LaFrance fire

1104
01:32:21,142 --> 01:32:25,002
truck from the Great Smoky Mountains Heritage Center,

1105
01:32:25,042 --> 01:32:28,942
and authorizing the execution of all documents necessary

1106
01:32:29,262 --> 01:32:30,862
to complete the transfer.

1107
01:32:32,182 --> 01:32:35,602
Item H: Approve Hughes environmental

1108
01:32:35,722 --> 01:32:39,642
proposal for City Hall mold remediation in

1109
01:32:39,662 --> 01:32:41,322
the estimated amount of

1110
01:32:41,342 --> 01:32:45,602
$30,592.08,

1111
01:32:46,122 --> 01:32:49,242
plus a 15% contingency of

1112
01:32:49,262 --> 01:32:53,162
$4,588.81,

1113
01:32:54,102 --> 01:32:55,922
for a total not to exceed

1114
01:32:56,402 --> 01:33:00,262
$35,180.89,

1115
01:33:01,242 --> 01:33:04,722
and the execution of all documents necessary to

1116
01:33:04,782 --> 01:33:06,182
complete the project.

1117
01:33:07,102 --> 01:33:07,882
Item I:

1118
01:33:09,062 --> 01:33:10,402
Declare as surplus

1119
01:33:11,202 --> 01:33:14,872
certain firearms currently in the possession of the Athens Police

1120
01:33:14,982 --> 01:33:18,962
Department that are no longer of evidentiary value

1121
01:33:19,002 --> 01:33:22,742
or are considered abandoned property under state law

1122
01:33:22,822 --> 01:33:26,762
after being held for more than six months, and authorize

1123
01:33:26,782 --> 01:33:30,572
the exchange of the firearms with Craig's Firearms for

1124
01:33:30,762 --> 01:33:34,721
in-store credit toward the purchase of law enforcement equipment.

1125
01:33:35,882 --> 01:33:37,662
Gentlemen, what's the will of the council?

1126
01:33:37,822 --> 01:33:40,002
Move approval of the consent agenda as presented.

1127
01:33:40,362 --> 01:33:41,002
Do I hear a second?

1128
01:33:41,162 --> 01:33:41,642
Yeah, I second.

1129
01:33:42,022 --> 01:33:43,802
Motion being made and seconded. Any discussions?

1130
01:33:45,262 --> 01:33:46,502
I just have to comment that

1131
01:33:47,762 --> 01:33:50,562
I think we're all, and I'll speak for the whole group, but I think we're all

1132
01:33:50,582 --> 01:33:53,762
excited about item G, the historic fire truck

1133
01:33:53,862 --> 01:33:57,762
returning. It was discussed at great length in our work session, so I

1134
01:33:57,802 --> 01:33:58,542
think

1135
01:34:00,042 --> 01:34:03,582
all residents of the city will be excited for that item to return to us.

1136
01:34:04,582 --> 01:34:05,202
Yes, I agree.

1137
01:34:06,342 --> 01:34:07,082
Any other discussions?

1138
01:34:08,462 --> 01:34:09,182
If not, roll call.

1139
01:34:09,922 --> 01:34:11,242
Council Member McCowan?

1140
01:34:11,422 --> 01:34:11,702
Aye.

1141
01:34:12,582 --> 01:34:13,822
Council Member Dugan?

1142
01:34:13,982 --> 01:34:14,202
Aye.

1143
01:34:15,422 --> 01:34:16,462
Vice Mayor Curtis?

1144
01:34:16,562 --> 01:34:16,842
Aye.

1145
01:34:17,742 --> 01:34:18,422
Mayor Eaton?

1146
01:34:18,762 --> 01:34:19,062
Aye.

1147
01:34:23,142 --> 01:34:25,142
There's no ordinances at this time.

1148
01:34:26,362 --> 01:34:29,642
There's no old business, I don't think, County

1149
01:34:30,902 --> 01:34:34,802
City Manager. And in new business, we'll go to line item A,

1150
01:34:34,962 --> 01:34:35,262
please.

1151
01:34:36,462 --> 01:34:39,902
Item A: McMinn Senior Activity Center

1152
01:34:39,962 --> 01:34:43,342
request for additional funding and other outside

1153
01:34:43,542 --> 01:34:44,682
agencies' funding.

1154
01:34:46,502 --> 01:34:50,442
I'd like to just make a motion of just the Senior Activity

1155
01:34:52,102 --> 01:34:52,762
Center funding,

1156
01:34:53,762 --> 01:34:57,422
and not add on all the other agencies at this point, just to have the

1157
01:34:57,442 --> 01:34:58,162
discussion of

1158
01:34:59,182 --> 01:35:01,682
Senior Center. Make a motion for just Senior Center.

1159
01:35:02,962 --> 01:35:03,782
I'll second the motion.

1160
01:35:03,822 --> 01:35:04,862
Yeah.

1161
01:35:04,902 --> 01:35:05,042
Yeah.

1162
01:35:05,922 --> 01:35:09,062
Motion's being made and seconded. Any discussions? You got the floor first.

1163
01:35:09,502 --> 01:35:10,902
Yeah. I think we

1164
01:35:11,702 --> 01:35:15,662
need to evaluate those that come before us one at a time

1165
01:35:15,902 --> 01:35:19,622
in that sense. We've received the information that you requested

1166
01:35:19,722 --> 01:35:21,542
concerning all the other outside agencies.

1167
01:35:21,682 --> 01:35:25,162
I think jumping forward and just trying to...

1168
01:35:27,382 --> 01:35:31,262
They're coming to plead their case of why they need funding, and

1169
01:35:31,982 --> 01:35:32,102
I'm

1170
01:35:33,082 --> 01:35:36,762
sorry, I'm kind of biased. I'm on their board. I've been assigned to their board.

1171
01:35:37,242 --> 01:35:40,542
So I'll have to recuse myself from voting on this.

1172
01:35:40,942 --> 01:35:42,662
But I wanted to make the motion on this.

1173
01:35:42,762 --> 01:35:43,222
You don't have to.

1174
01:35:43,282 --> 01:35:44,602
And

1175
01:35:45,702 --> 01:35:47,282
just full disclosure out there,

1176
01:35:48,542 --> 01:35:52,502
but I think it's something for our community that, as they

1177
01:35:52,562 --> 01:35:53,261
presented, it's

1178
01:35:55,122 --> 01:35:56,042
a high need.

1179
01:35:56,922 --> 01:36:00,822
We need to fully support our seniors. We will all be there at that point.

1180
01:36:01,842 --> 01:36:05,302
Everybody. Even those that we saw on the baseball team will be there at some point.

1181
01:36:06,322 --> 01:36:06,742
And-

1182
01:36:07,602 --> 01:36:08,912
I might be there now

1183
01:36:08,922 --> 01:36:12,102
... I need to stop at this point, but I just want to say that we need to

1184
01:36:12,842 --> 01:36:16,562
look at this item as presented by those who brought it forth.

1185
01:36:18,022 --> 01:36:20,562
I absolutely agree.

1186
01:36:21,782 --> 01:36:23,082
We have to take care of our seniors.

1187
01:36:25,022 --> 01:36:28,422
Listen, I honor you all for coming out,

1188
01:36:29,742 --> 01:36:31,902
and it's a shame that you have to come out,

1189
01:36:33,482 --> 01:36:36,312
but we have to honor you all. You all went before us,

1190
01:36:37,162 --> 01:36:40,372
and whatever we can do to help the seniors,

1191
01:36:41,362 --> 01:36:43,062
it's mandated to do.

1192
01:36:43,882 --> 01:36:45,242
So thank you all for coming.

1193
01:36:49,122 --> 01:36:52,282
After our work session, I asked staff to just

1194
01:36:52,762 --> 01:36:53,342
provide

1195
01:36:54,402 --> 01:36:58,151
a list of what it may look like to reinstate the

1196
01:36:58,151 --> 01:37:01,722
10% cut that we had in our budget this year for all outside

1197
01:37:01,762 --> 01:37:02,742
organizations.

1198
01:37:04,502 --> 01:37:08,202
I think that we have to remember that this was a

1199
01:37:08,322 --> 01:37:11,882
really, really tight budget year, where we made some very deliberate,

1200
01:37:12,802 --> 01:37:13,762
tough decisions

1201
01:37:14,582 --> 01:37:18,282
for some very specific reasons, primarily because of the capital

1202
01:37:18,292 --> 01:37:22,212
project we have underway for the fire hall, the staffing that's being

1203
01:37:22,302 --> 01:37:26,262
added there, our program for that, and just other factors.

1204
01:37:27,942 --> 01:37:31,562
Not in any way to discount the credibility or

1205
01:37:31,622 --> 01:37:35,322
validity of the request before us, but I think we have to

1206
01:37:35,402 --> 01:37:35,962
look at

1207
01:37:37,082 --> 01:37:38,702
these allocations collectively.

1208
01:37:38,762 --> 01:37:40,522
We made the decision to

1209
01:37:41,382 --> 01:37:42,822
take that cut across the board

1210
01:37:44,038 --> 01:37:47,558
So I think it sets a precarious precedent for this group

1211
01:37:48,238 --> 01:37:52,158
to pick one organization and reinstate the cut that we made in our budget

1212
01:37:52,178 --> 01:37:52,738
process.

1213
01:37:55,198 --> 01:37:57,678
As much as I hate to do it, I'm going to vote against this motion.

1214
01:37:57,738 --> 01:38:01,378
I might be the only one that's going to sit here and do it, but I feel that it's

1215
01:38:01,398 --> 01:38:04,498
the right thing to do because we have to remember what we did in the budget

1216
01:38:04,538 --> 01:38:05,118
process.

1217
01:38:05,958 --> 01:38:09,838
And I'm very sorry to do that. And you

1218
01:38:09,878 --> 01:38:12,558
all provide wonderful services there, without question.

1219
01:38:13,438 --> 01:38:17,028
As I mentioned in the work session, I saw firsthand open and center to the

1220
01:38:17,078 --> 01:38:20,898
community for the fish fry to benefit St. Mark's.

1221
01:38:20,978 --> 01:38:22,118
But I think that

1222
01:38:23,218 --> 01:38:27,038
this was part of our budget process this year, and it's unfortunate, but I

1223
01:38:27,158 --> 01:38:30,818
think we need to hold the line and reevaluate it next year.

1224
01:38:30,918 --> 01:38:33,278
That's just the way I feel about it.

1225
01:38:35,038 --> 01:38:36,918
Well, I'll say this.

1226
01:38:38,258 --> 01:38:39,378
Children and our older

1227
01:38:41,578 --> 01:38:44,758
senior citizens, I support fully. And children.

1228
01:38:45,538 --> 01:38:45,738
And,

1229
01:38:46,938 --> 01:38:47,758
Councilman Dugan,

1230
01:38:50,038 --> 01:38:53,498
you disclosed that you was part of that, and you can vote on this,

1231
01:38:54,098 --> 01:38:58,078
but I just want to make sure of that because sometimes I have to vote when I'm on

1232
01:38:58,178 --> 01:39:00,298
a committee, but I let it know, and you did.

1233
01:39:01,278 --> 01:39:03,198
Furthermore, there was some

1234
01:39:04,298 --> 01:39:05,538
budget things that we did

1235
01:39:06,418 --> 01:39:07,198
do and then

1236
01:39:09,078 --> 01:39:12,758
got voted down three to two. We had other things that we could've cut out of the

1237
01:39:12,798 --> 01:39:13,758
budget, but we didn't.

1238
01:39:15,458 --> 01:39:17,058
But as far as our seniors

1239
01:39:17,878 --> 01:39:21,678
and children, if it's for our seniors or children, then I'm fully

1240
01:39:21,758 --> 01:39:22,158
for it.

1241
01:39:24,598 --> 01:39:26,358
But anyway, if there's any more discussions,

1242
01:39:27,938 --> 01:39:28,518
not roll call.

1243
01:39:29,538 --> 01:39:31,018
Council Member McCowan?

1244
01:39:32,678 --> 01:39:32,978
Aye.

1245
01:39:34,438 --> 01:39:35,658
Council Member Dugan?

1246
01:39:36,158 --> 01:39:36,418
Aye.

1247
01:39:37,738 --> 01:39:38,958
Vice Mayor Curtis?

1248
01:39:39,098 --> 01:39:39,378
Nay.

1249
01:39:40,358 --> 01:39:40,978
Mayor Eaton?

1250
01:39:41,178 --> 01:39:42,058
Absolutely, yes.

1251
01:39:48,098 --> 01:39:48,918
Line item B, please.

1252
01:39:49,818 --> 01:39:50,278
Item B,

1253
01:39:51,358 --> 01:39:55,298
AARP Stormwater Grant Contract Amendment

1254
01:39:55,398 --> 01:39:58,618
to the agreement with Wilson Construction Group,

1255
01:39:58,818 --> 01:40:01,478
increasing the contract amount by

1256
01:40:01,488 --> 01:40:06,178
$213,330.70

1257
01:40:07,018 --> 01:40:08,638
to a new total of

1258
01:40:08,898 --> 01:40:15,078
$2,244,885.69.

1259
01:40:15,898 --> 01:40:16,958
Gentlemen, what's the motion?

1260
01:40:17,218 --> 01:40:17,798
Move approval.

1261
01:40:18,178 --> 01:40:18,858
Do I hear a second?

1262
01:40:19,558 --> 01:40:20,138
I'll second.

1263
01:40:20,998 --> 01:40:24,898
Motion being made and seconded. Vice Mayor, you've got the floor if you need it or

1264
01:40:25,018 --> 01:40:26,558
you don't. Anybody else?

1265
01:40:29,298 --> 01:40:31,378
Anybody discussions? Roll call.

1266
01:40:32,498 --> 01:40:33,738
Council Member McCowan?

1267
01:40:33,898 --> 01:40:34,178
Aye.

1268
01:40:34,978 --> 01:40:36,118
Council Member Dugan?

1269
01:40:36,458 --> 01:40:36,838
Aye.

1270
01:40:37,958 --> 01:40:38,938
Vice Mayor Curtis?

1271
01:40:39,948 --> 01:40:39,948
Aye.

1272
01:40:39,978 --> 01:40:40,558
Mayor Eaton?

1273
01:40:40,698 --> 01:40:40,898
Nay.

1274
01:40:45,958 --> 01:40:46,558
Item C.

1275
01:40:47,958 --> 01:40:49,778
Item C, Bid

1276
01:40:50,718 --> 01:40:54,218
RFB Number 26-06,

1277
01:40:54,738 --> 01:40:58,028
Repair, Maintenance, and Rehabilitation of Local

1278
01:40:58,278 --> 01:40:58,758
Streets.

1279
01:40:59,298 --> 01:40:59,878
Do I hear a motion?

1280
01:41:03,138 --> 01:41:03,698
Do I hear a motion?

1281
01:41:04,618 --> 01:41:04,868
Aye.

1282
01:41:05,778 --> 01:41:07,678
I'll make a motion. Do I hear a second?

1283
01:41:08,598 --> 01:41:09,878
I'll second for discussion.

1284
01:41:10,498 --> 01:41:11,858
Can you clarify your motion

1285
01:41:12,958 --> 01:41:14,218
real quick? We just need to know-

1286
01:41:15,238 --> 01:41:15,598
For the bid-

1287
01:41:15,827 --> 01:41:16,398
Between the two bids

1288
01:41:16,438 --> 01:41:17,988
... Okay, there's two bids.

1289
01:41:17,998 --> 01:41:19,918
Or what... Just clarify your motion, please.

1290
01:41:21,098 --> 01:41:21,278
For the

1291
01:41:22,338 --> 01:41:24,698
lowest bid for the repair of the streets.

1292
01:41:25,778 --> 01:41:27,078
The Rogers Group, I guess.

1293
01:41:28,098 --> 01:41:30,138
Rogers Group was the lowest base bid at

1294
01:41:30,148 --> 01:41:32,358
$1,000,327.84.

1295
01:41:36,778 --> 01:41:39,558
And there was a second, so any discussions?

1296
01:41:40,038 --> 01:41:43,618
Just for clarification, that bid exceeds the

1297
01:41:43,938 --> 01:41:47,628
budgeted amount of 1.15 million.

1298
01:41:47,658 --> 01:41:48,418
That's correct.

1299
01:41:48,658 --> 01:41:48,958
Okay.

1300
01:41:50,338 --> 01:41:52,518
Just thought that was worth noting.

1301
01:41:52,838 --> 01:41:54,598
So I did note here that

1302
01:41:55,858 --> 01:41:57,938
the request was to consider the lowest bid, which

1303
01:41:58,858 --> 01:41:59,998
you clarified,

1304
01:42:02,038 --> 01:42:05,598
but you move forward with the understanding that the

1305
01:42:05,638 --> 01:42:09,358
additional funding over the budgeted amount will come

1306
01:42:09,418 --> 01:42:12,138
out of next fiscal year's allocated amount.

1307
01:42:12,598 --> 01:42:15,418
So, with that being said, the next fiscal

1308
01:42:15,538 --> 01:42:18,768
year will essentially be less than 500,000

1309
01:42:19,698 --> 01:42:20,348
if you move forward.

1310
01:42:20,558 --> 01:42:22,718
And the thing about it, though, here's the problem.

1311
01:42:22,758 --> 01:42:26,358
We've heard that from Public

1312
01:42:26,398 --> 01:42:30,358
Works, that the Iran war was

1313
01:42:30,478 --> 01:42:34,278
astronomical, and what I'd looked at is around 6%, but we can't

1314
01:42:34,338 --> 01:42:37,318
guarantee what next year's pricing's going to be.

1315
01:42:37,458 --> 01:42:41,418
So, the citizens require us to make sure that the

1316
01:42:41,438 --> 01:42:45,398
roads are drivable and fixable, and that's what we need to

1317
01:42:45,438 --> 01:42:49,418
do. And I know Public Works is doing the

1318
01:42:49,458 --> 01:42:50,838
best they can, I know that,

1319
01:42:52,298 --> 01:42:54,978
but moving forward with the incentive of the

1320
01:42:55,038 --> 01:42:58,758
taxes being increased and everything else, as

1321
01:42:58,838 --> 01:43:00,128
far as tax revenue,

1322
01:43:01,258 --> 01:43:04,238
I think we'll be okay. But, we need to get our roads

1323
01:43:04,358 --> 01:43:05,518
paved.

1324
01:43:05,578 --> 01:43:09,488
So I have a question, and Ben may be able to

1325
01:43:09,558 --> 01:43:13,518
answer. We've done the bidding for all of this that's listed,

1326
01:43:13,578 --> 01:43:17,198
all these different streets, the overlay, the mill, and overlay of

1327
01:43:17,378 --> 01:43:19,538
certain streets, and then the full depth-

1328
01:43:20,018 --> 01:43:20,068
Yeah

1329
01:43:20,618 --> 01:43:20,618
...

1330
01:43:21,898 --> 01:43:23,418
reclamation.

1331
01:43:24,718 --> 01:43:24,778
I

1332
01:43:27,198 --> 01:43:30,978
know we bid out the whole thing, the whole shebang, but is there a way

1333
01:43:31,078 --> 01:43:31,438
of...

1334
01:43:33,758 --> 01:43:35,718
Choosing my words specifically.

1335
01:43:38,198 --> 01:43:41,798
Can we condense and do high-priority

1336
01:43:41,958 --> 01:43:42,518
areas

1337
01:43:43,758 --> 01:43:45,158
for this fiscal year,

1338
01:43:46,018 --> 01:43:46,438
and

1339
01:43:47,698 --> 01:43:49,998
would that be a rebidding-type scenario?

1340
01:43:52,378 --> 01:43:55,658
Kind of like we had discussed before, Councilman Dugan,

1341
01:43:56,338 --> 01:43:59,798
when you put that list out there, that's why I'm always

1342
01:43:59,838 --> 01:44:02,957
very cautious about doing that.

1343
01:44:03,738 --> 01:44:04,708
We discussed that.

1344
01:44:05,758 --> 01:44:08,938
The previous city manager wanted to put the list out.

1345
01:44:09,598 --> 01:44:12,768
We did. We didn't have bids. We couldn't do bids, right?

1346
01:44:13,408 --> 01:44:17,318
We can't do a bid for a budget that's not been approved yet, so we had to

1347
01:44:17,358 --> 01:44:18,908
wait until after we got into the fiscal year,

1348
01:44:19,898 --> 01:44:23,518
and unfortunately, you've just got a little bit of discrepancy between

1349
01:44:24,518 --> 01:44:26,858
what we estimate for that and what we don't.

1350
01:44:26,938 --> 01:44:30,638
I will tell you, when looking at the numbers between the different

1351
01:44:30,678 --> 01:44:32,578
improvements that are in that scope of work,

1352
01:44:33,658 --> 01:44:37,628
we were pretty much dead on the money with respect to the paving and

1353
01:44:37,658 --> 01:44:38,298
the overlay

1354
01:44:39,318 --> 01:44:40,368
component and the milling.

1355
01:44:41,218 --> 01:44:44,278
The discrepancy was more so on the FDR,

1356
01:44:45,078 --> 01:44:48,918
and that's a hard moving target to hit because it

1357
01:44:48,998 --> 01:44:52,438
is a complex operation. There's a lot of moving parts to it.

1358
01:44:53,258 --> 01:44:57,257
Trying to pin down a specific unit quantity price for

1359
01:44:57,278 --> 01:44:58,978
that for our estimation was kind of hard.

1360
01:44:59,018 --> 01:45:01,398
So we were a little bit short on that one.

1361
01:45:01,458 --> 01:45:03,578
That's what most of that differential is.

1362
01:45:04,428 --> 01:45:07,418
I would say that despite that being the case,

1363
01:45:08,278 --> 01:45:11,838
you really don't want to cut, because let's just say that's where you would

1364
01:45:11,858 --> 01:45:12,978
gravitate towards cutting, right?

1365
01:45:13,008 --> 01:45:16,818
"Well, that's the highest cost item we've got, let's cut those out." But the

1366
01:45:16,858 --> 01:45:20,808
roads that that's spec'd for are the ones that need a more

1367
01:45:21,398 --> 01:45:25,358
invasive treatment like that. Go over to Spring Place and

1368
01:45:25,378 --> 01:45:28,478
look at the entrance and tell me we don't need to fix it, right? It's terrible.

1369
01:45:29,418 --> 01:45:32,928
But that type of condition goes beyond what we can do with the

1370
01:45:32,998 --> 01:45:36,258
conventional mill and overlay. So it demands that.

1371
01:45:37,798 --> 01:45:39,948
To the point, like we discussed previously,

1372
01:45:40,958 --> 01:45:44,238
and Larry's got a point. Again, he asked the question in the study session,

1373
01:45:44,298 --> 01:45:46,338
you wait, does the price go

1374
01:45:47,358 --> 01:45:50,598
down, does it not? You don't know. I can't promise you that it won't, or that it

1375
01:45:50,658 --> 01:45:50,918
will.

1376
01:45:52,498 --> 01:45:52,778
That's

1377
01:45:53,678 --> 01:45:57,158
part of doing business. This is 11%

1378
01:45:58,078 --> 01:45:58,398
over

1379
01:45:59,838 --> 01:46:00,598
what we had budgeted,

1380
01:46:01,558 --> 01:46:05,458
and in my opinion, not great, not terrible.

1381
01:46:06,678 --> 01:46:08,938
I think you do it, you lock in the price now.

1382
01:46:10,138 --> 01:46:13,978
As you guys can see on the bid form, both contractors could

1383
01:46:14,038 --> 01:46:14,858
be here within

1384
01:46:15,778 --> 01:46:19,398
mid-October to do some stuff. We're going to have Rogers Group in

1385
01:46:19,498 --> 01:46:23,338
town probably latter end of October to November to do

1386
01:46:23,398 --> 01:46:26,438
some work to finish View Street North Jackson anyway.

1387
01:46:26,498 --> 01:46:30,398
My expectation, just to read between the lines with this, so you all know

1388
01:46:30,578 --> 01:46:33,718
what we would be looking at, I have no intention of doing the full-depth

1389
01:46:33,798 --> 01:46:37,518
reclamation or anything that is a mill and overlay this going into winter.

1390
01:46:38,258 --> 01:46:41,118
I would purely target the overlays. Those are easy.

1391
01:46:41,178 --> 01:46:42,978
There's no real surprises to that.

1392
01:46:43,598 --> 01:46:46,518
We can coordinate that work with AUB, and we might be able to sprinkle some of

1393
01:46:46,558 --> 01:46:49,738
those in before we get to cold weather, and then whatever we don't do, we'll pick

1394
01:46:49,818 --> 01:46:53,218
up and do in the spring. I would hate to cut someone's road, right?

1395
01:46:53,278 --> 01:46:53,998
We've told them

1396
01:46:54,958 --> 01:46:57,238
it's in our scope. I would

1397
01:46:57,478 --> 01:47:01,448
not want to do that, just to answer

1398
01:47:01,458 --> 01:47:03,618
your question. I think we've put it out there.

1399
01:47:04,658 --> 01:47:06,898
You either commit to it, and we do what we can.

1400
01:47:06,918 --> 01:47:08,058
And again, like Bridget said, we've

1401
01:47:09,298 --> 01:47:11,948
worked with Mike before. You pull funds forward.

1402
01:47:12,378 --> 01:47:14,918
We don't generally spend $500,000 per year.

1403
01:47:14,958 --> 01:47:18,308
We usually consolidate a few years at a time, and then we do

1404
01:47:19,078 --> 01:47:22,618
get a bundle. You get a little better economy of scale when you do that.

1405
01:47:23,438 --> 01:47:25,638
Sometimes you pay more, sometimes you pay less.

1406
01:47:26,538 --> 01:47:30,418
In the case of this one, like I said, it's within 11% of target.

1407
01:47:31,078 --> 01:47:31,498
I think you-

1408
01:47:32,138 --> 01:47:32,728
So is this-

1409
01:47:32,798 --> 01:47:33,148
You make the decision you want to move forward

1410
01:47:33,148 --> 01:47:35,188
... really all going to be a whole year later?

1411
01:47:35,278 --> 01:47:39,198
Because your estimate actually is estimated over the budget by

1412
01:47:39,208 --> 01:47:40,298
$30,000-

1413
01:47:40,578 --> 01:47:40,658
Mm-hmm

1414
01:47:40,718 --> 01:47:41,958
... at 1.18.

1415
01:47:42,518 --> 01:47:42,618
Right.

1416
01:47:42,678 --> 01:47:46,318
And we have in the budget 1.15, so that's

1417
01:47:46,358 --> 01:47:47,478
$30,000 more.

1418
01:47:47,858 --> 01:47:49,088
Correct. Again, we're talking about-

1419
01:47:49,138 --> 01:47:50,798
And that's your staff estimate

1420
01:47:51,918 --> 01:47:54,238
that you were looking for, you were hoping for.

1421
01:47:54,298 --> 01:47:54,718
That's correct.

1422
01:47:55,058 --> 01:47:58,878
And then all the estimates probably from this point further

1423
01:47:58,978 --> 01:48:00,878
are going to be higher.

1424
01:48:02,138 --> 01:48:05,338
So are you saying we need to wait until next year's budget for the next

1425
01:48:05,347 --> 01:48:06,438
$500,000?

1426
01:48:07,498 --> 01:48:10,757
No, you're going to be pulling a portion of that next year's allocation

1427
01:48:11,317 --> 01:48:15,198
forward to do the full amount that we're proposing to do that

1428
01:48:15,238 --> 01:48:19,138
we've got in that bid. You're going to be pulling some forward to

1429
01:48:19,158 --> 01:48:19,858
do all of this.

1430
01:48:19,898 --> 01:48:23,618
So at this point, we're going to cross our fingers and hope

1431
01:48:23,658 --> 01:48:26,738
that 1.3 doesn't jump to 1.4 next month?

1432
01:48:26,818 --> 01:48:30,438
Well, it shouldn't. The thing you've got to keep in mind, and again,

1433
01:48:30,518 --> 01:48:34,118
the number that you're looking at on paper is an estimated

1434
01:48:34,178 --> 01:48:37,978
quantity, right? This isn't a

1435
01:48:38,058 --> 01:48:41,418
takeoff for a building where everything is a defined quantity.

1436
01:48:42,098 --> 01:48:45,438
We've done a good amount of due diligence on our end to try

1437
01:48:45,518 --> 01:48:49,148
to be as conservative as we can with the figures

1438
01:48:49,798 --> 01:48:53,598
so that we don't get sticker shock when the rubber hits the road, and we're

1439
01:48:53,618 --> 01:48:54,398
actually doing this.

1440
01:48:55,318 --> 01:48:56,758
We may come in under.

1441
01:48:57,918 --> 01:49:01,738
You may run into a situation where we're $10,000 or $15,000, $20,000 over

1442
01:49:01,838 --> 01:49:03,628
it. It depends on what you really get into-

1443
01:49:03,758 --> 01:49:03,888
At the end of the journey

1444
01:49:03,888 --> 01:49:04,548
... once you get out there.

1445
01:49:05,138 --> 01:49:05,438
It's like the-

1446
01:49:05,498 --> 01:49:06,938
Yeah. Exactly.

1447
01:49:06,958 --> 01:49:09,578
Yeah. And we also have to take in mind contingency as well.

1448
01:49:09,698 --> 01:49:13,398
So even with this 1.3, we're not listed a

1449
01:49:13,438 --> 01:49:13,918
contingency.

1450
01:49:14,438 --> 01:49:16,178
I don't do a contingency on a project like this-

1451
01:49:16,318 --> 01:49:16,328
Okay

1452
01:49:16,338 --> 01:49:16,978
... because, again, you

1453
01:49:18,778 --> 01:49:20,378
define the quantity as best you can.

1454
01:49:20,418 --> 01:49:24,198
You get a unit price based on that, and then who's

1455
01:49:24,298 --> 01:49:26,558
most responsive and most qualified?

1456
01:49:26,578 --> 01:49:29,598
And in this case, you've got, I think, a good bid.

1457
01:49:30,228 --> 01:49:34,058
Again, it's within pretty reasonable tolerance of our estimation.

1458
01:49:34,098 --> 01:49:34,158
So-

1459
01:49:34,748 --> 01:49:34,828
Okay

1460
01:49:35,118 --> 01:49:37,578
... like I said, it may come in lower.

1461
01:49:37,598 --> 01:49:41,138
We may end up getting through this, and it'd be 1.25 or

1462
01:49:41,258 --> 01:49:42,048
1.3, or

1463
01:49:43,078 --> 01:49:45,128
we'll have to cross that bridge when we get there.

1464
01:49:45,138 --> 01:49:49,118
Well, if anything, this gives us a roadmap for

1465
01:49:49,158 --> 01:49:49,978
the future at this point.

1466
01:49:50,068 --> 01:49:54,038
Sure. And again, like anything, costs go up, costs go

1467
01:49:54,098 --> 01:49:57,778
down, everything's volatile. And you'll continue to see that.

1468
01:49:57,858 --> 01:50:01,398
You've got a price at this point that we can work with No matter what happens,

1469
01:50:01,998 --> 01:50:04,698
we'll get this stuff done for what you got in that package, and we'll be done by

1470
01:50:04,738 --> 01:50:08,358
June 30. And we'll get the next round together, and we'll talk about that when we

1471
01:50:08,398 --> 01:50:08,638
get there.

1472
01:50:09,898 --> 01:50:11,758
Thank you. I appreciate you. Any other questions?

1473
01:50:11,778 --> 01:50:14,738
Well, I was going to say, when would you bid out the next round?

1474
01:50:15,538 --> 01:50:17,998
I would probably jump another two years.

1475
01:50:18,058 --> 01:50:20,658
I'm probably going to look at going forward two more years and then trying to

1476
01:50:20,678 --> 01:50:22,898
combine two budgets' worth of paving to do.

1477
01:50:24,598 --> 01:50:24,608
Okay.

1478
01:50:24,638 --> 01:50:27,878
And again, we may look at doing some other STBG or

1479
01:50:28,778 --> 01:50:32,758
funded type improvements between now and then, but you generally see us stagger

1480
01:50:32,798 --> 01:50:33,058
those.

1481
01:50:33,658 --> 01:50:33,858
Okay.

1482
01:50:35,818 --> 01:50:36,778
Thank you. Appreciate you.

1483
01:50:37,458 --> 01:50:37,698
Mayor?

1484
01:50:37,827 --> 01:50:37,888
That's fine.

1485
01:50:38,078 --> 01:50:39,718
May I just make a clarification?

1486
01:50:40,898 --> 01:50:44,788
It's over budget by $177,000, not 30.

1487
01:50:44,838 --> 01:50:46,838
I just wanted to, for the record, note that.

1488
01:50:46,918 --> 01:50:49,938
Oh, yeah. I was quoting what they were estimating. Yeah.

1489
01:50:50,058 --> 01:50:50,558
Oh, okay.

1490
01:50:51,518 --> 01:50:54,138
The staff had estimated proposed streets to cost

1491
01:50:54,678 --> 01:50:58,638
1.18. That was 30 over what's budgeted in our-- I

1492
01:50:58,678 --> 01:50:59,478
was quoting the staff-

1493
01:50:59,578 --> 01:50:59,738
That was my

1494
01:50:59,778 --> 01:51:02,638
... number. Yeah. Not the Rogers number. Sorry about that.

1495
01:51:03,418 --> 01:51:04,018
Any other questions?

1496
01:51:05,298 --> 01:51:05,617
Roll call.

1497
01:51:06,478 --> 01:51:07,818
Council Member McCowan?

1498
01:51:07,898 --> 01:51:08,538
Aye.

1499
01:51:09,378 --> 01:51:10,598
Council Member Dugan?

1500
01:51:17,238 --> 01:51:17,418
Nay.

1501
01:51:19,778 --> 01:51:20,918
Vice Mayor Curtis?

1502
01:51:21,078 --> 01:51:21,418
Aye.

1503
01:51:22,638 --> 01:51:23,278
Mayor Eaton?

1504
01:51:23,518 --> 01:51:24,758
Let's pave the roads. Aye.

1505
01:51:30,918 --> 01:51:31,638
Pave the roads.

1506
01:51:32,618 --> 01:51:33,138
All right.

1507
01:51:36,438 --> 01:51:38,018
Line item D.

1508
01:51:39,958 --> 01:51:43,878
First reading of an ordinance 1161 to

1509
01:51:43,918 --> 01:51:47,478
amend title one, chapter 1-2

1510
01:51:47,838 --> 01:51:51,148
of the Athens City Code by replacing section

1511
01:51:51,518 --> 01:51:55,238
1-44 to revise the order of business for

1512
01:51:55,358 --> 01:51:56,778
city council meetings.

1513
01:51:57,798 --> 01:51:58,658
Gentlemen, do I hear a motion?

1514
01:51:58,718 --> 01:51:59,218
Move approval.

1515
01:51:59,478 --> 01:52:00,118
Do I hear a second?

1516
01:52:00,698 --> 01:52:00,978
Second.

1517
01:52:01,318 --> 01:52:02,868
Motion's been made and seconded. Any discussions?

1518
01:52:04,038 --> 01:52:05,148
I just wanted to mention,

1519
01:52:06,218 --> 01:52:07,448
like I did in the study session,

1520
01:52:09,198 --> 01:52:13,038
and before everybody jumps the gun and throws words in my mouth, I am not against

1521
01:52:13,078 --> 01:52:13,978
citizens speaking.

1522
01:52:15,098 --> 01:52:16,918
I kind of like the way it's mapped out.

1523
01:52:17,558 --> 01:52:21,378
You have items for the agenda about the agenda, so we can focus on the

1524
01:52:21,438 --> 01:52:21,798
agenda.

1525
01:52:22,707 --> 01:52:26,338
And then we have those who need

1526
01:52:27,138 --> 01:52:30,958
or have information and attention items that we can focus

1527
01:52:31,038 --> 01:52:33,498
on after the meeting and make notes of that as well.

1528
01:52:34,198 --> 01:52:36,258
And it gives people a chance to speak.

1529
01:52:36,298 --> 01:52:40,218
And plus, there's also times to speak, of course, for ordinances and second

1530
01:52:41,038 --> 01:52:44,998
readings of ordinances as well. But I say all that to say that

1531
01:52:46,398 --> 01:52:51,038
I'm

1532
01:52:51,418 --> 01:52:54,078
a fan of the way it is already, just for

1533
01:52:54,978 --> 01:52:56,798
my own personal sake of focus.

1534
01:52:57,638 --> 01:52:59,518
But if anybody else has any other thoughts.

1535
01:53:00,938 --> 01:53:04,718
Only thing I'll say is this. The TCA has changed, and now the

1536
01:53:04,758 --> 01:53:06,698
germane to the agenda is totally different.

1537
01:53:06,728 --> 01:53:08,018
And that's the reason why we're changing it.

1538
01:53:08,158 --> 01:53:09,058
It's not that

1539
01:53:10,338 --> 01:53:12,758
we're trying to split it up or anything like that.

1540
01:53:12,818 --> 01:53:14,698
It's the germane to the agenda is

1541
01:53:15,738 --> 01:53:19,638
obsolete basically now. So that's the reason why. Any other discussions?

1542
01:53:20,918 --> 01:53:23,338
I just want the citizens to be able to speak, okay?

1543
01:53:25,058 --> 01:53:25,138
We

1544
01:53:26,018 --> 01:53:27,818
go through the work sessions, and we already

1545
01:53:28,758 --> 01:53:30,658
hash out a lot of things in the work sessions.

1546
01:53:30,788 --> 01:53:30,918
So

1547
01:53:32,018 --> 01:53:35,898
just let the citizens speak. That's what I'm concerned about.

1548
01:53:36,498 --> 01:53:37,078
Any other discussions?

1549
01:53:38,118 --> 01:53:38,518
Roll call.

1550
01:53:39,338 --> 01:53:40,718
Council Member McCowan?

1551
01:53:40,818 --> 01:53:41,018
Aye.

1552
01:53:41,998 --> 01:53:43,218
Council Member Dugan?

1553
01:53:43,358 --> 01:53:43,598
Nay.

1554
01:53:44,678 --> 01:53:45,698
Vice Mayor Curtis?

1555
01:53:45,738 --> 01:53:46,218
Aye.

1556
01:53:46,958 --> 01:53:47,578
Mayor Eaton?

1557
01:53:47,738 --> 01:53:48,078
Aye.

1558
01:53:52,718 --> 01:53:53,418
Line item E.

1559
01:53:55,038 --> 01:53:58,518
Item E, proposed revisions to the employee

1560
01:53:58,638 --> 01:53:59,238
handbook.

1561
01:54:00,418 --> 01:54:00,568
Member-

1562
01:54:00,858 --> 01:54:03,678
The title of the revised employee handbook,

1563
01:54:04,598 --> 01:54:08,138
specifically including the revised longevity pay policy, was provided to

1564
01:54:08,178 --> 01:54:10,218
us in an additional attachment.

1565
01:54:10,278 --> 01:54:10,778
Is there a second?

1566
01:54:13,738 --> 01:54:14,178
Is there a second?

1567
01:54:14,398 --> 01:54:14,748
I second.

1568
01:54:15,238 --> 01:54:17,048
Motion's been made and seconded. Discussion?

1569
01:54:17,397 --> 01:54:21,238
I'd like to make an amendment to have the longevity as a

1570
01:54:21,258 --> 01:54:21,917
separate vote.

1571
01:54:23,358 --> 01:54:23,538
I

1572
01:54:24,898 --> 01:54:27,158
just want to make an amendment to have the longevity as a separate vote

1573
01:54:29,558 --> 01:54:30,338
instead of all in one.

1574
01:54:37,898 --> 01:54:38,658
Is there a second?

1575
01:54:41,138 --> 01:54:44,458
I think I may second that one. I think that we need to split that one up because I

1576
01:54:45,238 --> 01:54:48,078
didn't look at the longevity.

1577
01:54:48,198 --> 01:54:49,558
Because we have two options to vote on.

1578
01:54:49,878 --> 01:54:50,138
Yes.

1579
01:54:51,558 --> 01:54:54,718
Motion's been made and seconded on the amendment. Any other discussions on this?

1580
01:54:55,978 --> 01:54:59,438
I feel like this needed to be voted on first, and

1581
01:54:59,758 --> 01:55:02,258
I was going to address the handbook thing after that.

1582
01:55:02,318 --> 01:55:05,538
If we threw it all, lumped it all together, it would just get confused, and they

1583
01:55:05,598 --> 01:55:09,098
need guidance on which option the council wants anyway.

1584
01:55:09,138 --> 01:55:12,638
So that's why I wanted to amend and have that option voted on.

1585
01:55:13,898 --> 01:55:17,438
Okay. Any other discussions? This is for the amendment only.

1586
01:55:18,298 --> 01:55:20,398
Okay, amendment only. Roll call, please.

1587
01:55:21,058 --> 01:55:22,378
Council Member McCowan?

1588
01:55:22,438 --> 01:55:22,678
Nay.

1589
01:55:24,178 --> 01:55:25,338
Council Member Dugan?

1590
01:55:26,098 --> 01:55:26,378
Aye.

1591
01:55:27,638 --> 01:55:28,718
Vice Mayor Curtis?

1592
01:55:28,838 --> 01:55:29,078
Nay.

1593
01:55:30,398 --> 01:55:31,398
Mayor Eaton?

1594
01:55:31,538 --> 01:55:35,478
Aye. Two to two, it fails. We're going

1595
01:55:35,538 --> 01:55:36,917
back to the main motion.

1596
01:55:43,338 --> 01:55:44,088
You did the main motion.

1597
01:55:44,498 --> 01:55:46,998
No. Is there any more discussions on this? Okay. I'm sorry. I apologize.

1598
01:55:47,038 --> 01:55:48,898
Well, yeah.

1599
01:55:49,918 --> 01:55:50,318
For me,

1600
01:55:51,118 --> 01:55:54,038
I can't vote on something that I have a lot of issues with.

1601
01:55:55,058 --> 01:55:57,038
Not policy-wise, but

1602
01:55:58,058 --> 01:56:00,838
I mentioned this in the study session, there's errors.

1603
01:56:02,738 --> 01:56:04,158
I can't vote on a final

1604
01:56:05,426 --> 01:56:08,326
... project that's haphazardly done.

1605
01:56:10,306 --> 01:56:12,826
I can sit here and give examples of things.

1606
01:56:14,126 --> 01:56:17,966
I gave a couple in the study session, and then I sent an email saying that

1607
01:56:18,246 --> 01:56:22,046
I was going to send those corrections

1608
01:56:22,106 --> 01:56:25,156
to the HR department, but I felt like it wasn't my job to correct

1609
01:56:26,246 --> 01:56:28,706
a piece of work that I wasn't involved in.

1610
01:56:29,046 --> 01:56:30,106
It's not my job to

1611
01:56:31,186 --> 01:56:35,166
do that job. So, I felt like a reevaluation, a look through

1612
01:56:35,246 --> 01:56:35,626
again,

1613
01:56:36,966 --> 01:56:40,626
and I just recently finished looking through, and I think there's one more

1614
01:56:40,706 --> 01:56:44,046
section I got to finish. But I have found over

1615
01:56:45,306 --> 01:56:48,666
one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight,

1616
01:56:49,106 --> 01:56:52,986
nine, 10, 11, 12, 13, 13 different errors in different

1617
01:56:53,106 --> 01:56:53,666
sections.

1618
01:56:54,626 --> 01:56:56,706
One section deals with,

1619
01:56:57,786 --> 01:57:01,286
on page 40, it says section two, but it doesn't

1620
01:57:01,366 --> 01:57:04,166
reference anything. There was no section one.

1621
01:57:04,686 --> 01:57:06,626
It's just random wording, section two.

1622
01:57:08,446 --> 01:57:09,226
There's another one that's,

1623
01:57:10,525 --> 01:57:14,185
I think, on page 46, section eight. What is that?

1624
01:57:14,406 --> 01:57:16,966
There was no section seven or six or anything else.

1625
01:57:17,486 --> 01:57:19,626
So, it's like it was copy and pasted and thrown together.

1626
01:57:21,326 --> 01:57:23,546
The other thing is spacing throughout the whole thing.

1627
01:57:25,226 --> 01:57:28,006
I know that's an OCD thing of mine, but

1628
01:57:30,006 --> 01:57:33,266
it's supposed to be a finished product that's going to be brought forth to people

1629
01:57:33,306 --> 01:57:36,326
who are going to be employed. And if they read through and see

1630
01:57:37,346 --> 01:57:40,846
either grammatical or just things like that, and I know

1631
01:57:41,206 --> 01:57:44,086
there'll probably be some issues about that, but

1632
01:57:44,906 --> 01:57:46,456
it's just editing issues.

1633
01:57:47,746 --> 01:57:49,826
Another issue,

1634
01:57:50,306 --> 01:57:53,776
the ironic factor is,

1635
01:57:53,966 --> 01:57:57,886
if we're at Will State, we have a lot of policies where

1636
01:57:57,946 --> 01:58:00,936
we actually give second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth chances.

1637
01:58:01,906 --> 01:58:04,446
I just thought that was an ironic thing.

1638
01:58:04,506 --> 01:58:08,376
I'm not against that, by the way. I'm also for redemption and

1639
01:58:08,426 --> 01:58:09,346
reconciliation.

1640
01:58:11,106 --> 01:58:11,386
But

1641
01:58:12,606 --> 01:58:14,545
I wanted to

1642
01:58:16,246 --> 01:58:19,645
say I can't vote for something that's not

1643
01:58:19,726 --> 01:58:20,866
finalized.

1644
01:58:21,866 --> 01:58:25,166
And I understand it was, I don't want to say it was thrown together.

1645
01:58:25,206 --> 01:58:27,766
It was put together because it was separate policies.

1646
01:58:28,006 --> 01:58:31,406
It's the way it was explained to me is they were all separate policies, and she was

1647
01:58:31,546 --> 01:58:34,365
putting it together in one handbook format.

1648
01:58:35,106 --> 01:58:38,466
But one issue is

1649
01:58:38,546 --> 01:58:42,486
that there is no revision page. I worked with

1650
01:58:42,506 --> 01:58:46,326
policies as well, and we had a page where we

1651
01:58:47,006 --> 01:58:50,566
listed for every time the board met, we had a revision

1652
01:58:50,666 --> 01:58:54,486
page, and it was updated. And then also

1653
01:58:54,566 --> 01:58:58,546
each section, there was only one section that listed,

1654
01:58:59,686 --> 01:59:03,126
let me find it. Social media section has a policy of review section

1655
01:59:03,946 --> 01:59:07,526
concerning how the council will review, but all the other sections of policies

1656
01:59:07,566 --> 01:59:09,936
don't even talk about the council reviewing.

1657
01:59:10,886 --> 01:59:14,746
So, either it needs to be at the tail end of the whole handbook that is going to be

1658
01:59:14,786 --> 01:59:18,646
reviewed by the council, or each section, the policy

1659
01:59:18,666 --> 01:59:19,346
section needs to

1660
01:59:21,166 --> 01:59:25,026
have that. Only social media, page 48, was the only one that

1661
01:59:25,066 --> 01:59:27,466
had that it'll be reviewed by the council.

1662
01:59:28,286 --> 01:59:32,186
And then, if you look at the whole,

1663
01:59:33,786 --> 01:59:36,866
like I said, some people might get upset about this, but

1664
01:59:38,606 --> 01:59:42,226
I felt like we have the city policies here.

1665
01:59:42,746 --> 01:59:46,706
Background checks, I felt like should be put further dealing

1666
01:59:46,746 --> 01:59:49,086
with employment. We shouldn't have background checks

1667
01:59:50,386 --> 01:59:53,106
halfway through the policy right before benefits.

1668
01:59:54,006 --> 01:59:57,946
To me, I think letting them know after general provisions, the

1669
01:59:57,986 --> 02:00:01,756
pay plan, and recruitment and employment, I thought

1670
02:00:03,346 --> 02:00:06,886
background checks should be informed of that in that section.

1671
02:00:07,586 --> 02:00:08,895
So, I really think

1672
02:00:09,926 --> 02:00:13,416
there could be a little more streamlining of the whole

1673
02:00:13,446 --> 02:00:17,416
thing. I can't vote for something that's not very streamlined and

1674
02:00:17,446 --> 02:00:18,586
presentable to the public.

1675
02:00:20,286 --> 02:00:21,406
Mayor, may I respond?

1676
02:00:22,185 --> 02:00:22,706
Yes, go ahead.

1677
02:00:24,326 --> 02:00:26,566
Well, the first thing, on page 18 of your packet-

1678
02:00:26,745 --> 02:00:26,755
Mm-hmm

1679
02:00:26,846 --> 02:00:28,826
... there is actually a summary of revisions.

1680
02:00:29,126 --> 02:00:31,386
So, everything that was changed is listed.

1681
02:00:31,416 --> 02:00:32,616
It has the page number,

1682
02:00:33,706 --> 02:00:34,966
what changed.

1683
02:00:34,996 --> 02:00:34,996
Right.

1684
02:00:35,026 --> 02:00:37,726
I mean, it's all there. So, you can see what was changed.

1685
02:00:38,606 --> 02:00:41,136
As far as one of your examples,

1686
02:00:42,466 --> 02:00:45,586
on page 40, where you mentioned section two, that you don't know what it's

1687
02:00:45,646 --> 02:00:46,466
referring to,

1688
02:00:47,726 --> 02:00:48,586
it states

1689
02:00:49,566 --> 02:00:53,336
in section two of the City of Athens Workplace Violence Policy.

1690
02:00:54,006 --> 02:00:56,286
So, it's referring to the Athens Workplace Violence

1691
02:00:56,586 --> 02:01:00,326
Policy. So that's what that's referring to, which

1692
02:01:00,686 --> 02:01:02,216
I didn't catch the second one you said, but-

1693
02:01:02,606 --> 02:01:02,696
Yeah

1694
02:01:02,696 --> 02:01:04,266
... I'm sure it's something similar, but most-

1695
02:01:04,286 --> 02:01:06,166
Oh, there's a separate policy concerning that?

1696
02:01:06,446 --> 02:01:08,786
Well, there's a separate section here.

1697
02:01:08,796 --> 02:01:12,676
Now, your job as a council is to approve policy,

1698
02:01:12,766 --> 02:01:16,346
so that's a given. That it's included in the social media

1699
02:01:16,386 --> 02:01:19,626
policy, that's the newest policy that's added.

1700
02:01:19,966 --> 02:01:23,786
That was the most recent that you actually have not seen

1701
02:01:23,826 --> 02:01:26,306
before it was put into this.

1702
02:01:26,346 --> 02:01:26,526
Mm-hmm.

1703
02:01:26,766 --> 02:01:29,886
This is the first time you're actually seeing that, so that's probably why it's

1704
02:01:29,926 --> 02:01:32,026
included there is because it is the newest.

1705
02:01:34,466 --> 02:01:38,186
But it is a given that you all pass the policies, and that's basically what these

1706
02:01:38,206 --> 02:01:41,946
revisions are, are policies that have passed over time,

1707
02:01:42,446 --> 02:01:46,336
and now our human resources director is just adding

1708
02:01:46,366 --> 02:01:47,646
them all into one book-

1709
02:01:47,806 --> 02:01:47,926
Right

1710
02:01:48,086 --> 02:01:50,406
... so that we have it in one place now.

1711
02:01:50,986 --> 02:01:51,126
And

1712
02:01:53,766 --> 02:01:57,486
if all the issue is, is formatting, we can change that without a

1713
02:01:57,566 --> 02:01:57,886
vote-

1714
02:01:58,166 --> 02:01:58,386
Well, I-

1715
02:01:58,436 --> 02:01:59,866
... anytime. It can be a work in progress.

1716
02:02:00,046 --> 02:02:03,146
Well, I know, but it's not all just formatting.

1717
02:02:03,646 --> 02:02:07,226
There's some others that I don't want to take up time to talk about because

1718
02:02:08,418 --> 02:02:11,988
It's going to take a while because, like I said, I have a whole separate list of

1719
02:02:12,018 --> 02:02:12,398
those.

1720
02:02:13,918 --> 02:02:17,157
But I just wanted that to be known, is that I

1721
02:02:18,998 --> 02:02:19,478
would think

1722
02:02:22,458 --> 02:02:22,658
it would

1723
02:02:23,998 --> 02:02:26,688
look better for the city to have something a little more

1724
02:02:26,738 --> 02:02:28,178
streamlined.

1725
02:02:31,338 --> 02:02:34,688
I don't know how much more streamlined it could be, but

1726
02:02:35,058 --> 02:02:37,098
obviously we value your opinion.

1727
02:02:37,678 --> 02:02:38,088
Right.

1728
02:02:38,088 --> 02:02:41,938
But if we need to get this approved as soon as possible

1729
02:02:42,018 --> 02:02:45,908
so that we can continue giving it to our employees, I understand that

1730
02:02:45,918 --> 02:02:49,318
there may be some misspelled or wrong words,

1731
02:02:49,858 --> 02:02:51,938
because I think it was just the wrong word that was placed.

1732
02:02:51,978 --> 02:02:55,558
And you know how it is when you write something up, and you read it

1733
02:02:55,638 --> 02:02:57,978
yourself, and you know what it's supposed to say.

1734
02:02:58,298 --> 02:03:01,938
I think the example you gave was police and policy.

1735
02:03:02,298 --> 02:03:02,558
Right.

1736
02:03:02,598 --> 02:03:02,928
It was just-

1737
02:03:03,038 --> 02:03:06,098
Well, another big one is on page 31,

1738
02:03:07,598 --> 02:03:11,318
definitions. They gave a definition for robbery.

1739
02:03:12,018 --> 02:03:14,638
"A machine gun, a shotgun,

1740
02:03:15,678 --> 02:03:15,788
and

1741
02:03:17,158 --> 02:03:19,158
shot-barreled rifle shotgun-

1742
02:03:19,478 --> 02:03:19,588
Nope

1743
02:03:19,618 --> 02:03:22,118
... and a handgun." Those are all firearms.

1744
02:03:22,258 --> 02:03:26,038
Now keep in mind, these policies were not written from

1745
02:03:26,118 --> 02:03:26,578
scratch.

1746
02:03:26,888 --> 02:03:26,888
Right.

1747
02:03:26,898 --> 02:03:30,438
They're basically model policies that we've used

1748
02:03:31,038 --> 02:03:33,018
from MTAS mostly, am I correct?

1749
02:03:35,678 --> 02:03:39,558
So it's not something that she wrote up from scratch.

1750
02:03:39,618 --> 02:03:39,628
Right.

1751
02:03:39,638 --> 02:03:42,758
Most of this is model, and we've built upon it over the years.

1752
02:03:44,478 --> 02:03:48,448
Yeah, and then it lists aggravated robbery twice on page 31, right after

1753
02:03:48,478 --> 02:03:52,278
itself. But like I mentioned, you can't have the

1754
02:03:52,318 --> 02:03:55,378
word firearm after you just listed all the firearms.

1755
02:03:56,298 --> 02:04:00,248
It's redundancy at

1756
02:04:00,278 --> 02:04:00,518
that point.

1757
02:04:00,528 --> 02:04:01,168
Yeah, that is something we could-

1758
02:04:01,198 --> 02:04:05,038
I think what we need to do moving forward is,

1759
02:04:06,058 --> 02:04:09,478
and I'm not telling anybody how to vote, but I think that we can go ahead and

1760
02:04:09,778 --> 02:04:12,838
adopt this, and then the next work session,

1761
02:04:13,978 --> 02:04:17,717
city manager, you can address these things, and then we can

1762
02:04:18,657 --> 02:04:19,678
continue on

1763
02:04:21,018 --> 02:04:22,908
making it better instead of-

1764
02:04:22,998 --> 02:04:23,638
Oh, yeah. It was always a work in progress.

1765
02:04:23,718 --> 02:04:27,698
I like it that it's all in one instead of a bunch of separate policies

1766
02:04:28,038 --> 02:04:30,398
you have to hand people when they're being hired.

1767
02:04:30,818 --> 02:04:33,218
I actually appreciate all in one.

1768
02:04:33,478 --> 02:04:33,598
Right.

1769
02:04:33,678 --> 02:04:37,558
It's better. It's streamlined. It's a better thing, and I appreciate that

1770
02:04:37,618 --> 02:04:38,798
she was doing that. But

1771
02:04:40,058 --> 02:04:43,938
I think there's ways of... Like I said, I

1772
02:04:43,978 --> 02:04:46,778
worked with many different policies at different banks.

1773
02:04:46,898 --> 02:04:50,538
I even wrote a few myself. So

1774
02:04:52,418 --> 02:04:53,518
I guess I'm done at this point.

1775
02:04:54,418 --> 02:04:57,178
We're a policy-making board by very definition.

1776
02:04:57,238 --> 02:04:59,478
We were presented with staff with a policy.

1777
02:05:00,438 --> 02:05:04,338
We had an extra month to review it. We had a specific ask

1778
02:05:04,398 --> 02:05:08,198
to determine, to pick a path going head to head policy.

1779
02:05:09,598 --> 02:05:12,718
I brought forward my opinion work session. There was no conversation there.

1780
02:05:13,818 --> 02:05:16,898
There again, the ask of this body was to

1781
02:05:18,998 --> 02:05:22,338
pick a choice. Make a decision.

1782
02:05:22,368 --> 02:05:25,958
And I think the question was answered in the work session.

1783
02:05:25,998 --> 02:05:27,528
Hey, look, we can handle

1784
02:05:28,858 --> 02:05:32,478
some formatting issues. Staff's fully capable of handling that.

1785
02:05:32,598 --> 02:05:36,458
The question for this policy-making body was the

1786
02:05:36,518 --> 02:05:40,378
content of this document. So I think we just have to be cognizant

1787
02:05:40,398 --> 02:05:44,298
of what our role and what our higher responsibility is, and that we

1788
02:05:44,338 --> 02:05:46,178
need to be moving this city forward.

1789
02:05:46,718 --> 02:05:50,258
We could sit here and discuss minutia all over this

1790
02:05:50,358 --> 02:05:54,038
packet until the wee hours of the morning, but I think what we need to do

1791
02:05:54,098 --> 02:05:57,798
is approve this so that we can move

1792
02:05:57,838 --> 02:06:01,348
forward. And let me say this, too. This is a holistic team effort.

1793
02:06:02,298 --> 02:06:05,838
From the conversations I had with staff to sort of ask the questions I had to be

1794
02:06:05,858 --> 02:06:06,998
informed about this vote,

1795
02:06:08,758 --> 02:06:12,358
many of our... Really, everyone on our team was involved in providing input to

1796
02:06:12,398 --> 02:06:16,138
this. As the city manager said, this is a model MTAS

1797
02:06:16,238 --> 02:06:20,078
document. There was input provided by our insurer for different

1798
02:06:20,118 --> 02:06:23,638
matters of risk management that have changed. The attorney had input.

1799
02:06:24,518 --> 02:06:28,498
So I just want to express appreciation to our whole team for the heavy

1800
02:06:28,538 --> 02:06:32,418
lift of coordinating all this, letting all the different department

1801
02:06:32,438 --> 02:06:36,238
heads review it, and get it to a state to get it to this group to approve, to then

1802
02:06:36,338 --> 02:06:40,198
put in final form. So thank you all so much for the hard work to do

1803
02:06:40,218 --> 02:06:41,338
that. It's much appreciated.

1804
02:06:41,518 --> 02:06:44,478
Well, I didn't say that the hard work wasn't appreciated.

1805
02:06:44,558 --> 02:06:47,878
I just said-- And actually, there was a discussion. I brought it up.

1806
02:06:48,278 --> 02:06:48,618
I said

1807
02:06:49,578 --> 02:06:51,158
I gave the errors that I mentioned.

1808
02:06:51,298 --> 02:06:55,218
I gave two, and then the next morning, I decided to send

1809
02:06:55,238 --> 02:06:59,218
an email saying, "I'm not going to sit here and give all the errors

1810
02:06:59,258 --> 02:07:02,818
that I found for somebody else to correct when it's not my

1811
02:07:02,838 --> 02:07:03,958
document to correct."

1812
02:07:05,178 --> 02:07:05,618
So

1813
02:07:08,098 --> 02:07:11,938
I discussed it through that meeting to let it know that there's

1814
02:07:11,998 --> 02:07:15,868
stuff there, and then I asked if it could be reviewed one more time before we came

1815
02:07:15,898 --> 02:07:16,508
to this meeting,

1816
02:07:17,358 --> 02:07:20,598
and I got nothing. I got a

1817
02:07:20,718 --> 02:07:24,638
very berating and belittling email from another council

1818
02:07:24,678 --> 02:07:25,458
member

1819
02:07:26,758 --> 02:07:27,938
questioning my resume.

1820
02:07:28,958 --> 02:07:29,018
So

1821
02:07:30,158 --> 02:07:30,698
like I was saying,

1822
02:07:31,518 --> 02:07:31,578
I

1823
02:07:32,678 --> 02:07:36,478
appreciate the effort, and it's multiple departments. I do appreciate it.

1824
02:07:37,118 --> 02:07:40,038
But like I mentioned in the email as well as the meeting,

1825
02:07:40,968 --> 02:07:41,348
there's

1826
02:07:43,018 --> 02:07:46,558
mistakes that I found, and I'm not an English major.

1827
02:07:47,778 --> 02:07:48,398
So

1828
02:07:50,138 --> 02:07:52,618
I just don't like putting out documents for the public

1829
02:07:53,578 --> 02:07:54,458
to recruit

1830
02:07:55,618 --> 02:07:56,618
with haphazardness.

1831
02:07:57,858 --> 02:07:58,858
All right. I'm going to say this.

1832
02:08:00,598 --> 02:08:02,778
I'm going to try to lighten the atmosphere.

1833
02:08:04,538 --> 02:08:08,218
Like the old guy said one time, "Okay, I might not have dotted all the

1834
02:08:08,798 --> 02:08:11,178
everything correctly, but did you get the message?"

1835
02:08:13,186 --> 02:08:13,606
That's the...

1836
02:08:14,526 --> 02:08:15,646
Did you get the message?

1837
02:08:16,546 --> 02:08:19,146
And we can always... It's just like when I

1838
02:08:20,306 --> 02:08:23,096
made a gospel album. Okay? And

1839
02:08:25,006 --> 02:08:28,646
I go back over, and you want to try to correct

1840
02:08:28,806 --> 02:08:31,086
every single little thing that you did, but you

1841
02:08:32,746 --> 02:08:34,646
get to a place where you say, "Okay, I'm done."

1842
02:08:35,966 --> 02:08:39,206
So did you get the message? So I think we got the message.

1843
02:08:40,326 --> 02:08:41,686
I'm sure

1844
02:08:42,526 --> 02:08:43,746
you can go through that document.

1845
02:08:45,686 --> 02:08:49,426
You, city manager, you all can go through that and correct

1846
02:08:49,466 --> 02:08:52,066
whatever needs to be corrected. Okay?

1847
02:08:52,146 --> 02:08:53,746
I have faith that you can do that.

1848
02:08:55,426 --> 02:08:56,386
Any other discussions, gentlemen?

1849
02:08:58,046 --> 02:08:58,425
Roll call.

1850
02:09:02,766 --> 02:09:04,026
Council Member McCowan.

1851
02:09:04,126 --> 02:09:05,726
So I understand what we're voting here.

1852
02:09:06,186 --> 02:09:06,266
So

1853
02:09:06,616 --> 02:09:07,406
We're voting for the-

1854
02:09:08,466 --> 02:09:10,206
Not to change anything. Right?

1855
02:09:10,746 --> 02:09:14,726
It's for technically both. He put a motion for both the longevity and

1856
02:09:14,786 --> 02:09:14,916
the-

1857
02:09:15,326 --> 02:09:15,836
The longevity

1858
02:09:15,886 --> 02:09:16,786
... handbook all in one.

1859
02:09:16,866 --> 02:09:18,205
It's all a part of the employee handbook.

1860
02:09:18,286 --> 02:09:18,666
The, uh-

1861
02:09:19,286 --> 02:09:22,966
But he listed option one instead of we're negating option two.

1862
02:09:23,606 --> 02:09:23,946
So he-

1863
02:09:24,796 --> 02:09:27,046
We were provided two options to choose from.

1864
02:09:27,126 --> 02:09:31,066
We had a discussion work session. I recommended the option

1865
02:09:31,106 --> 02:09:34,406
that has been presented here because there was no further discussion about it.

1866
02:09:34,486 --> 02:09:34,706
That's-

1867
02:09:34,826 --> 02:09:36,906
That's why I amended to have that discussion.

1868
02:09:37,606 --> 02:09:39,286
I thought we already turned... Well.

1869
02:09:41,986 --> 02:09:43,886
Chairman Campbell, we're voting on the whole thing.

1870
02:09:43,976 --> 02:09:44,066
Yes.

1871
02:09:44,126 --> 02:09:46,726
All the updates collectively in one vote.

1872
02:09:46,846 --> 02:09:46,966
And

1873
02:09:47,926 --> 02:09:50,086
his option number one for longevity.

1874
02:09:51,226 --> 02:09:53,976
No, sir, it's not my option number one. It's the staff recommendation.

1875
02:09:54,046 --> 02:09:54,646
What is the one?

1876
02:09:54,676 --> 02:09:56,026
No, there was option one and two.

1877
02:09:56,086 --> 02:09:57,156
The one that you, the motion.

1878
02:09:57,156 --> 02:09:59,186
That's what you recommended. There was two options.

1879
02:09:59,526 --> 02:10:00,446
Go ahead, city manager.

1880
02:10:00,506 --> 02:10:03,886
I just want to clarify. On page 15 and 16, if you'll turn to

1881
02:10:03,946 --> 02:10:07,546
your packet, there are still two options

1882
02:10:07,606 --> 02:10:08,826
listed in the memo.

1883
02:10:10,606 --> 02:10:14,226
Option one was the no prorated longevity, and

1884
02:10:14,346 --> 02:10:17,846
option two was the prorated longevity for voluntary

1885
02:10:17,946 --> 02:10:18,696
separation.

1886
02:10:20,226 --> 02:10:20,946
Just to clarify.

1887
02:10:21,386 --> 02:10:24,926
Right. And he mentioned option one in study session,

1888
02:10:25,986 --> 02:10:28,746
and I tried to amend to have that discussion for option one and two.

1889
02:10:30,586 --> 02:10:33,826
But is that the council member's motion?

1890
02:10:33,926 --> 02:10:37,056
My motion is for the prorated longevity-

1891
02:10:37,126 --> 02:10:37,726
Option one

1892
02:10:39,106 --> 02:10:40,106
... which is option two.

1893
02:10:40,386 --> 02:10:41,766
Oh, option two? Did it change?

1894
02:10:41,826 --> 02:10:41,986
Yes.

1895
02:10:42,106 --> 02:10:42,626
That's correct.

1896
02:10:42,846 --> 02:10:43,366
Option two.

1897
02:10:43,516 --> 02:10:44,936
Option two.

1898
02:10:44,936 --> 02:10:48,336
And that's been seconded. We're ready for a everybody, every-

1899
02:10:48,415 --> 02:10:49,596
So we're at for number two. Okay.

1900
02:10:49,626 --> 02:10:50,126
Number two.

1901
02:10:50,306 --> 02:10:50,506
Okay.

1902
02:10:50,566 --> 02:10:52,126
That prorates longevity pay-

1903
02:10:52,366 --> 02:10:52,546
Okay

1904
02:10:52,686 --> 02:10:54,036
... for voluntary separation.

1905
02:10:54,226 --> 02:10:54,446
Okay.

1906
02:10:55,206 --> 02:10:56,266
Aye. Roll call.

1907
02:10:57,206 --> 02:10:58,026
Council member-

1908
02:10:58,366 --> 02:10:59,066
Aye.

1909
02:10:59,886 --> 02:11:01,086
Council member Dugan.

1910
02:11:01,206 --> 02:11:01,846
Nay.

1911
02:11:02,406 --> 02:11:06,146
Council member Charland. Sorry. Vice Mayor Curtis.

1912
02:11:06,326 --> 02:11:06,706
Aye.

1913
02:11:07,846 --> 02:11:08,426
Mayor Eaton.

1914
02:11:08,526 --> 02:11:08,806
Aye.

1915
02:11:11,526 --> 02:11:14,626
Okay, there's two more things I want to bring up in the

1916
02:11:17,066 --> 02:11:18,206
new business,

1917
02:11:19,006 --> 02:11:22,726
and this is from Article 1, Section 7 of the

1918
02:11:24,266 --> 02:11:25,306
code, city codes.

1919
02:11:26,706 --> 02:11:28,086
I'm asking the city attorney,

1920
02:11:29,606 --> 02:11:32,606
I'm requesting an investigation of the following matters involved, the

1921
02:11:32,786 --> 02:11:36,506
alleged misappropriation of funds that

1922
02:11:36,686 --> 02:11:39,306
may have occurred over an extended period of time.

1923
02:11:39,886 --> 02:11:43,296
These concerns should be thoroughly reviewed and

1924
02:11:43,346 --> 02:11:47,026
investigated at a potential civil or maybe criminal

1925
02:11:47,086 --> 02:11:50,486
violations, allegedly, that are

1926
02:11:50,506 --> 02:11:54,126
identified. The findings should be referred to the appropriate

1927
02:11:54,186 --> 02:11:58,126
authorities for further use if the investigation deems so.

1928
02:11:58,386 --> 02:11:58,646
So

1929
02:11:59,446 --> 02:12:02,486
given the nature of the allegations and the individuals who are involved, I

1930
02:12:02,546 --> 02:12:05,286
recommend the investigation be conducted by an independent agency.

1931
02:12:06,126 --> 02:12:07,266
The issues outlined

1932
02:12:08,186 --> 02:12:11,695
below should be fully examined. Documents I have obtained,

1933
02:12:12,266 --> 02:12:15,946
and the city attorney will obtain them too for the investigation,

1934
02:12:16,506 --> 02:12:20,486
over the past years, and I believe additional records, even earlier

1935
02:12:20,726 --> 02:12:24,646
years, might even be relevant. In light of this request, I

1936
02:12:24,666 --> 02:12:28,166
ask all records related to this matter be preserved until investigation

1937
02:12:28,266 --> 02:12:28,786
complete.

1938
02:12:30,485 --> 02:12:33,936
This includes records maintained in accordance with the applicable

1939
02:12:34,126 --> 02:12:38,066
Tennessee Code Annotated, TCA, provisions, Tennessee

1940
02:12:38,106 --> 02:12:40,986
laws, and policy and procedures of Athens, Tennessee.

1941
02:12:41,006 --> 02:12:44,836
Preservations should include all physical and digital recordings, as

1942
02:12:44,926 --> 02:12:48,716
well as personal or city cell phones that may have been used in

1943
02:12:48,806 --> 02:12:52,546
connection with these matters. Number one, investigation of funding

1944
02:12:53,806 --> 02:12:57,446
provided by the City of Athens to the Parks Foundation, including

1945
02:12:57,466 --> 02:13:00,646
all city funds contributed to the 501 [c]

1946
02:13:00,766 --> 02:13:04,566
organization, any absence of the document, city council approval for

1947
02:13:04,606 --> 02:13:04,866
these

1948
02:13:05,766 --> 02:13:09,366
contributed. Identify the individuals involved

1949
02:13:10,566 --> 02:13:13,926
and the identities of the individuals

1950
02:13:13,966 --> 02:13:17,766
involved, including all positions they hold with both City of

1951
02:13:17,866 --> 02:13:21,466
Athens and the Parks Foundation. There allegedly

1952
02:13:21,506 --> 02:13:24,646
looks like a potential of over

1953
02:13:24,656 --> 02:13:25,746
$100,000

1954
02:13:27,066 --> 02:13:30,306
being moved around. Number two, sanitation fund.

1955
02:13:31,346 --> 02:13:34,866
Descriptions provided by three commercial accounts,

1956
02:13:36,486 --> 02:13:39,046
which we have no records of being shown

1957
02:13:39,926 --> 02:13:42,986
or found in city council approval.

1958
02:13:43,066 --> 02:13:44,206
These discounts

1959
02:13:45,286 --> 02:13:49,246
appear to be in place for an extended period of

1960
02:13:49,326 --> 02:13:53,106
time, and does not

1961
02:13:53,146 --> 02:13:57,106
reflect in any city budget during the past four years of my service.

1962
02:13:57,886 --> 02:14:01,666
The practice was discontinued this year, August the

1963
02:14:01,826 --> 02:14:05,626
22nd, 2026, after it was identified and stopped by

1964
02:14:05,666 --> 02:14:06,886
former mayor, city manager.

1965
02:14:07,866 --> 02:14:11,346
Available records indicate that discounts were applied

1966
02:14:11,466 --> 02:14:14,842
annually for more than over four years that I know of. ...

1967
02:14:14,892 --> 02:14:16,882
for significant long periods of time.

1968
02:14:17,302 --> 02:14:21,142
And number three, vehicle allowance reimbursements provided to three

1969
02:14:21,222 --> 02:14:25,122
directors and one project manager should be reviewed to determine

1970
02:14:25,142 --> 02:14:28,162
whether mileage claims comply with city policy.

1971
02:14:28,742 --> 02:14:32,482
Available information indicates the individual who received car allowance may not

1972
02:14:32,562 --> 02:14:36,322
be permitted to claim mileage for the first 65 miles from the city

1973
02:14:36,362 --> 02:14:40,152
hall, yet such claims appear to have been submitted over an extended

1974
02:14:40,242 --> 02:14:44,162
period of time. Records suggest these practice may

1975
02:14:44,262 --> 02:14:46,342
have occurred for many years,

1976
02:14:47,282 --> 02:14:49,982
particularly among the employees with longer tenures.

1977
02:14:51,302 --> 02:14:52,262
This matter should be

1978
02:14:53,202 --> 02:14:57,122
thoroughly investigated, and I'm pulling the Article 1, Section

1979
02:14:57,242 --> 02:14:58,422
7, which is

1980
02:14:59,682 --> 02:15:03,642
it does not require a city council vote, but I'm going to give this to the

1981
02:15:04,062 --> 02:15:07,042
city attorney for the investigations.

1982
02:15:07,182 --> 02:15:09,082
So I want to make sure this is open to the public.

1983
02:15:09,542 --> 02:15:10,482
Will you please give this to him?

1984
02:15:11,682 --> 02:15:15,522
And I will send you all the documents I have also, and you can retrieve them too.

1985
02:15:16,302 --> 02:15:17,462
Mayor, may I ask a question?

1986
02:15:18,002 --> 02:15:18,442
Yes, ma'am.

1987
02:15:20,222 --> 02:15:24,202
This is dealing with staff and administrative issues from what

1988
02:15:24,262 --> 02:15:26,662
I gather. Why am I being blindsided?

1989
02:15:27,042 --> 02:15:28,262
I was not aware that this was-

1990
02:15:28,522 --> 02:15:32,022
You was told that I had turned in to the comptroller

1991
02:15:33,702 --> 02:15:34,762
all of these issues.

1992
02:15:34,902 --> 02:15:35,262
That's right.

1993
02:15:35,462 --> 02:15:39,452
I did tell you to your face or on a phone call that I had turned

1994
02:15:39,482 --> 02:15:40,882
it in. And

1995
02:15:42,242 --> 02:15:44,542
furthermore, with what had happened

1996
02:15:45,442 --> 02:15:48,602
last Monday with the letter that I'm fixing to read,

1997
02:15:49,842 --> 02:15:53,812
it's more imperative that two of the council members

1998
02:15:53,842 --> 02:15:56,322
had been

1999
02:15:57,262 --> 02:15:58,362
improperly attacked,

2000
02:15:59,402 --> 02:16:01,002
and that's my next

2001
02:16:01,842 --> 02:16:05,742
one. I'll let... But saying this, this is the taxpayers' money.

2002
02:16:06,682 --> 02:16:08,022
It's been going on for

2003
02:16:09,222 --> 02:16:12,882
a long time, and even when I was a private citizen,

2004
02:16:13,322 --> 02:16:15,822
I had been following this, but could not

2005
02:16:17,402 --> 02:16:21,282
get into it until the former city manager had been digging

2006
02:16:21,362 --> 02:16:23,502
into this and finding these issues.

2007
02:16:24,202 --> 02:16:24,521
And

2008
02:16:25,542 --> 02:16:25,792
that's

2009
02:16:26,802 --> 02:16:29,802
one of the reasons why that me and him had been doing this.

2010
02:16:29,962 --> 02:16:33,622
And you knew that I had been asking for the documentation.

2011
02:16:34,902 --> 02:16:38,802
There's nothing that was blindsided because you knew I have all

2012
02:16:38,822 --> 02:16:42,442
the documentation. You knew what I was doing because I told you that I sent...

2013
02:16:42,862 --> 02:16:45,042
So this right here is just another

2014
02:16:46,263 --> 02:16:46,802
that the

2015
02:16:48,562 --> 02:16:52,542
chief ethics officer is the city attorney of Athens, Tennessee, and

2016
02:16:52,683 --> 02:16:56,603
according to Article 1, Section 7, we can call for an

2017
02:16:56,622 --> 02:17:00,423
investigation. And that's clear what I'm

2018
02:17:00,462 --> 02:17:02,722
doing. I'm not doing anything blindsided.

2019
02:17:02,751 --> 02:17:04,792
I'm doing everything for the taxpayers,

2020
02:17:05,782 --> 02:17:08,311
not for individuals. And

2021
02:17:10,242 --> 02:17:13,782
so be it. If the

2022
02:17:13,792 --> 02:17:17,482
taxpayers are not aware of what we're doing, then we got a serious

2023
02:17:17,542 --> 02:17:20,523
problem. Now, I'm not saying you because you're just an intern right now.

2024
02:17:20,582 --> 02:17:20,751
Yes, sir.

2025
02:17:20,763 --> 02:17:23,822
This has been going on for a long time before you, okay?

2026
02:17:24,482 --> 02:17:27,562
There's nothing about you on this, okay?

2027
02:17:27,603 --> 02:17:31,591
This has been going on for quite a bit of time, and it needs to be looked at, it

2028
02:17:31,622 --> 02:17:33,722
needs to be handled, it needs to be resolved.

2029
02:17:34,402 --> 02:17:38,322
And the only way to do it is through the comptroller and also the city

2030
02:17:38,362 --> 02:17:38,782
attorney.

2031
02:17:39,662 --> 02:17:43,282
And I have also requested that

2032
02:17:43,942 --> 02:17:44,603
because of

2033
02:17:46,042 --> 02:17:46,282
the

2034
02:17:47,402 --> 02:17:51,162
amount of documentation I have, that probably an outside entity would

2035
02:17:51,362 --> 02:17:54,902
probably be the best. But saying that, there's one

2036
02:17:54,942 --> 02:17:56,183
more item

2037
02:17:57,183 --> 02:17:57,402
that-

2038
02:17:57,843 --> 02:18:01,582
With respect, if it's at the Comptroller's office,

2039
02:18:03,202 --> 02:18:05,923
there could be a little bit-- there could be the issue of too many cooks in the

2040
02:18:05,982 --> 02:18:07,462
kitchen, so to speak. I mean,

2041
02:18:08,322 --> 02:18:12,263
they're the ones, they're the financial watchdogs, so to speak, so-

2042
02:18:12,292 --> 02:18:14,442
They're financial watchdogs, but they're not

2043
02:18:15,482 --> 02:18:18,862
watchdogs of our city other than doing the

2044
02:18:20,462 --> 02:18:23,982
systems. If there's issues, it's going to take a while, but

2045
02:18:24,302 --> 02:18:26,343
our city attorney needs to be aware of this.

2046
02:18:26,402 --> 02:18:28,362
Our taxpayers need to be aware of this.

2047
02:18:28,843 --> 02:18:32,341
This is a serious matter that's been going on for numerous of years.

2048
02:18:33,023 --> 02:18:34,382
And

2049
02:18:36,802 --> 02:18:39,462
I'll forward you all of the stuff that I have.

2050
02:18:40,082 --> 02:18:43,542
And I'm seriously, I've been seriously thinking, just waiting for the

2051
02:18:43,562 --> 02:18:47,263
comptroller, but I really believe that the city

2052
02:18:48,562 --> 02:18:51,683
attorney needs to look into this very

2053
02:18:51,742 --> 02:18:54,962
in-depth because this has to do with our

2054
02:18:55,002 --> 02:18:56,082
taxpayers' money.

2055
02:18:57,142 --> 02:19:00,442
This has to do with our city of Athens, and

2056
02:19:01,242 --> 02:19:04,982
I don't take that lightly because ever since I was a citizen, I was

2057
02:19:05,462 --> 02:19:08,763
pulling records, public records, to find these things.

2058
02:19:09,192 --> 02:19:12,962
And the things that have been coming up is really worrisome to

2059
02:19:13,002 --> 02:19:13,222
me.

2060
02:19:15,683 --> 02:19:19,023
I just want to add, I am curious because you are correct.

2061
02:19:19,142 --> 02:19:22,902
I am aware of some of the documents you have requested and some

2062
02:19:22,962 --> 02:19:26,582
citizens have requested. But in those documents,

2063
02:19:26,622 --> 02:19:30,062
from what I have seen, I have personally not seen

2064
02:19:30,142 --> 02:19:33,242
anything that would cause any concern.

2065
02:19:34,542 --> 02:19:37,853
So I am curious what documents you are referring to and-

2066
02:19:37,942 --> 02:19:39,222
I'll let the investigation-

2067
02:19:39,302 --> 02:19:39,312
... welcome the investigation

2068
02:19:39,312 --> 02:19:42,202
... take over and I'll let the investigation because I've called for an

2069
02:19:42,222 --> 02:19:43,423
investigation and that's

2070
02:19:44,282 --> 02:19:47,722
where I'll stand right there because the documentation that I have is

2071
02:19:49,862 --> 02:19:53,582
something that I take serious. And I would not bring this out to the public if

2072
02:19:53,662 --> 02:19:56,942
I didn't. And everybody knows the way that I am.

2073
02:19:57,042 --> 02:20:00,092
I'm always very detailed with everything. I've asked questions.

2074
02:20:00,142 --> 02:20:03,742
I've got documentation. And I believe

2075
02:20:03,802 --> 02:20:04,162
that

2076
02:20:05,102 --> 02:20:08,262
this needs to be resolved. It's been going on too

2077
02:20:08,322 --> 02:20:09,742
long. And

2078
02:20:14,682 --> 02:20:18,442
the best thing to do is turn it over to the comptroller like I did, and also

2079
02:20:18,622 --> 02:20:22,002
to the city attorney So that's what I've done.

2080
02:20:22,682 --> 02:20:26,602
And that's number one. And number two,

2081
02:20:29,082 --> 02:20:29,442
and

2082
02:20:30,882 --> 02:20:34,142
City Manager, you're aware of the public records, very aware of them.

2083
02:20:34,202 --> 02:20:35,282
You're very knowledgeable.

2084
02:20:36,382 --> 02:20:40,262
Heck, I carry two phones with me because one is my city phone and I

2085
02:20:40,302 --> 02:20:44,002
do city business with. And just like you, you've got city phone,

2086
02:20:44,102 --> 02:20:47,942
and all of us do, because I think

2087
02:20:48,002 --> 02:20:50,802
all my city business will be done on my city phone.

2088
02:20:51,022 --> 02:20:52,842
Now, sometimes I get text messages on

2089
02:20:53,762 --> 02:20:57,502
something of mine, but it's something simple, one of the citizens wanting to know

2090
02:20:57,582 --> 02:21:01,442
about a yard being mowed. And I tell them to send me an email, and I send it

2091
02:21:01,482 --> 02:21:02,522
straight to you. But anyway,

2092
02:21:03,362 --> 02:21:04,062
saying that,

2093
02:21:06,802 --> 02:21:10,521
last week I received an email, and the rest of the city

2094
02:21:10,602 --> 02:21:11,642
council did, about

2095
02:21:13,302 --> 02:21:17,202
a direct hostile work environment that I provided and

2096
02:21:17,302 --> 02:21:21,182
also Councilman

2097
02:21:21,382 --> 02:21:21,822
Dugan,

2098
02:21:23,382 --> 02:21:25,652
during last week's study session.

2099
02:21:26,442 --> 02:21:30,412
And the emails are right here, and City Manager, I will be giving

2100
02:21:30,442 --> 02:21:31,082
this to you.

2101
02:21:32,902 --> 02:21:34,842
I mean, not City Manager, City Attorney.

2102
02:21:34,962 --> 02:21:36,022
I will be giving these

2103
02:21:37,142 --> 02:21:40,382
documents to you that it was clearly

2104
02:21:40,462 --> 02:21:41,242
that

2105
02:21:42,082 --> 02:21:45,922
we were being accused of a hostile work environment last work

2106
02:21:45,982 --> 02:21:48,902
session, where we were asking why the roads weren't being paved.

2107
02:21:48,912 --> 02:21:52,822
And you even heard Mr. Birchfield up here today explaining

2108
02:21:52,862 --> 02:21:53,402
some things,

2109
02:21:54,762 --> 02:21:55,362
why we

2110
02:21:56,182 --> 02:21:58,872
were paving certain roads in that regional park when

2111
02:21:59,022 --> 02:22:01,922
we were leaving some of the other parts,

2112
02:22:02,742 --> 02:22:03,962
and evidently-

2113
02:22:04,202 --> 02:22:07,962
Mayor, I'm sorry. Respectfully, I do think that that is an

2114
02:22:07,982 --> 02:22:09,472
administrative issue concerning-

2115
02:22:09,472 --> 02:22:13,382
This is not an... You accused. This was an

2116
02:22:13,482 --> 02:22:16,052
accusation of city council, and I'm letting the public know.

2117
02:22:16,062 --> 02:22:18,422
It was sharing of information.

2118
02:22:18,622 --> 02:22:21,062
Okay, sharing, but you gave it all to city council.

2119
02:22:21,642 --> 02:22:21,862
Yes.

2120
02:22:21,942 --> 02:22:23,332
And that is open to public-

2121
02:22:23,332 --> 02:22:24,532
Because you all do need to be on the same page

2122
02:22:24,532 --> 02:22:25,742
... that is open to public

2123
02:22:27,642 --> 02:22:28,261
request.

2124
02:22:28,742 --> 02:22:28,752
Okay.

2125
02:22:28,761 --> 02:22:32,042
So therefore, it is open to the public, and I want to make sure the public

2126
02:22:32,051 --> 02:22:33,462
knows when you

2127
02:22:34,402 --> 02:22:38,032
say to me that I'm causing a hostile work environment for asking

2128
02:22:38,082 --> 02:22:41,682
questions of your staff in an open public meeting while

2129
02:22:41,722 --> 02:22:44,122
we're having a discussion. There was nothing

2130
02:22:45,882 --> 02:22:49,762
volatile. And I've even asked for the recordings, which I have not got

2131
02:22:49,822 --> 02:22:50,102
yet.

2132
02:22:52,382 --> 02:22:54,062
But anyway, saying this,

2133
02:22:55,142 --> 02:22:58,882
there is one thing that's really bothering me with all of this.

2134
02:22:59,542 --> 02:22:59,922
And

2135
02:23:01,262 --> 02:23:04,982
you sent me the documentation, the resignation

2136
02:23:05,062 --> 02:23:05,402
letter

2137
02:23:06,562 --> 02:23:10,502
from... This is the letter that was sent to us. Okay?

2138
02:23:11,152 --> 02:23:14,872
And I'm actually, at this point in time, I'm filing a public records

2139
02:23:14,902 --> 02:23:18,282
request on all apps

2140
02:23:18,962 --> 02:23:22,732
that the city manager and anyone else is doing in the city,

2141
02:23:23,102 --> 02:23:26,972
because this right here was on an RSC app. It's not on a public app.

2142
02:23:26,982 --> 02:23:28,581
No, it was on a cell phone.

2143
02:23:29,022 --> 02:23:31,162
Yeah. It was on a RSC chat.

2144
02:23:31,842 --> 02:23:33,032
And I do want to point out-

2145
02:23:33,082 --> 02:23:36,831
And that is not a public forum, so all of

2146
02:23:36,902 --> 02:23:39,582
this chat is supposed to be in public forum.

2147
02:23:41,742 --> 02:23:43,562
Not necessarily. This is a...

2148
02:23:44,611 --> 02:23:48,082
And I'm not going to say employee, because she is technically not an employee.

2149
02:23:48,322 --> 02:23:52,252
She is a contractor. She is a temporary through an agency that

2150
02:23:52,322 --> 02:23:52,942
we use.

2151
02:23:54,242 --> 02:23:57,982
That was her notice to me, as her supervisor, that

2152
02:23:58,042 --> 02:24:01,322
she was not comfortable being in that environment

2153
02:24:01,362 --> 02:24:02,562
any longer.

2154
02:24:03,122 --> 02:24:04,922
Let me read it to you. I'll read it to the city.

2155
02:24:06,002 --> 02:24:09,682
This is an RSC chat, which is an app

2156
02:24:09,822 --> 02:24:13,562
on Google that is not subject to public

2157
02:24:13,662 --> 02:24:15,862
records. You cannot get this as public records.

2158
02:24:15,922 --> 02:24:19,862
So this was sent to the city manager on the city...

2159
02:24:24,482 --> 02:24:28,102
This is relevant because this is public

2160
02:24:28,182 --> 02:24:29,942
information that we cannot retrieve.

2161
02:24:30,862 --> 02:24:32,382
This is a chat-

2162
02:24:32,442 --> 02:24:34,322
These are pending HR matters.

2163
02:24:34,902 --> 02:24:38,162
These are not pending HR matters. This is something that

2164
02:24:38,882 --> 02:24:40,401
I've got a public records right here that-

2165
02:24:40,602 --> 02:24:43,272
There was no accusations. It was, like I'm saying-

2166
02:24:43,702 --> 02:24:45,122
No accusations. Let me read.

2167
02:24:45,162 --> 02:24:45,802
It was information.

2168
02:24:45,862 --> 02:24:48,582
Hold on a second. Let me read it, okay? Bridget.

2169
02:24:48,922 --> 02:24:49,822
Mayor, please.

2170
02:24:49,942 --> 02:24:51,442
No, I'm going to read this.

2171
02:24:51,522 --> 02:24:52,522
This is a staff issue.

2172
02:24:52,802 --> 02:24:56,462
You sent this resignation documentation.

2173
02:24:56,522 --> 02:25:00,442
This is even subject to public records, but I'm going to read this to the open

2174
02:25:00,542 --> 02:25:04,402
public so the public knows that two council

2175
02:25:04,442 --> 02:25:06,102
members called it a hostile work environment.

2176
02:25:06,402 --> 02:25:09,262
There's nothing, City Attorney, that I'm doing negative.

2177
02:25:09,622 --> 02:25:13,252
This was an attack on two city council members for asking

2178
02:25:13,362 --> 02:25:16,471
questions of the staff. And here it is. Bridget.

2179
02:25:16,482 --> 02:25:18,822
Can I say something? I think something needs to be said.

2180
02:25:20,102 --> 02:25:22,882
As a member of the board of directors of this organization,

2181
02:25:24,622 --> 02:25:27,922
from someone who has experience in a supervisory role professionally,

2182
02:25:29,182 --> 02:25:31,582
you cannot discount or discredit

2183
02:25:33,982 --> 02:25:37,862
what an employee says if they feel uncomfortable about their work

2184
02:25:37,962 --> 02:25:41,832
environment. This is inappropriate, and this needs to be handled in the

2185
02:25:41,862 --> 02:25:44,962
proper venue. So I just have the good conscience to say that.

2186
02:25:45,002 --> 02:25:45,312
This is inappropriate.

2187
02:25:45,422 --> 02:25:46,022
Well, thank you.

2188
02:25:46,842 --> 02:25:47,142
Here's-

2189
02:25:47,282 --> 02:25:49,062
Let me say this. Now, let me say this.

2190
02:25:49,602 --> 02:25:52,982
This is

2191
02:25:53,222 --> 02:25:53,702
totally

2192
02:25:55,062 --> 02:25:56,022
out of line. Okay?

2193
02:25:56,402 --> 02:25:56,962
Yeah, I agree.

2194
02:25:57,202 --> 02:25:59,562
No, it's totally out of line where we're going with this right here.

2195
02:25:59,802 --> 02:25:59,952
Okay.

2196
02:25:59,962 --> 02:26:00,342
Because

2197
02:26:01,902 --> 02:26:05,582
it's not appropriate. I've been in settings,

2198
02:26:05,702 --> 02:26:09,642
believe me, and anything that's going on within the HR, or anything

2199
02:26:09,742 --> 02:26:11,722
going on with the staff,

2200
02:26:13,322 --> 02:26:16,902
we are a governing body, but we're not here to run what's going on

2201
02:26:17,482 --> 02:26:19,922
day by day. And I would think it'd be

2202
02:26:21,338 --> 02:26:24,138
Not appropriate to go any further with this, okay?

2203
02:26:24,898 --> 02:26:26,058
I would think that would be-

2204
02:26:26,258 --> 02:26:26,497
Mayor

2205
02:26:26,518 --> 02:26:27,098
... here's what's going-

2206
02:26:27,178 --> 02:26:27,478
Mayor,

2207
02:26:28,418 --> 02:26:29,118
I would say stop.

2208
02:26:29,458 --> 02:26:31,338
No, I'm going to read this right here.

2209
02:26:31,418 --> 02:26:32,098
They can do a public records request.

2210
02:26:32,158 --> 02:26:33,458
This is derogatory.

2211
02:26:33,618 --> 02:26:34,478
I would say stop.

2212
02:26:34,818 --> 02:26:36,318
If everybody would know about

2213
02:26:36,358 --> 02:26:40,138
self-publication, and you can probably,

2214
02:26:40,398 --> 02:26:44,118
city attorney can do this, this is defaming

2215
02:26:44,238 --> 02:26:45,798
of an individual.

2216
02:26:45,998 --> 02:26:46,858
I think we should adjourn.

2217
02:26:47,138 --> 02:26:49,298
I move we adjourn. Yes, I move to adjourn. Second.

2218
02:26:50,738 --> 02:26:52,998
The motion has not been made up yet.

2219
02:26:53,478 --> 02:26:54,398
So, and we still-

2220
02:26:54,858 --> 02:26:55,068
I just made it. It's been seconded.

2221
02:26:55,068 --> 02:26:55,147
It's been-

2222
02:26:55,318 --> 02:26:59,258
All in favor. We have the majority council want to adjourn this meeting at this

2223
02:26:59,318 --> 02:26:59,558
time.

2224
02:26:59,698 --> 02:27:02,638
We don't even have the reports- Ken, you're in violation of the charter.

2225
02:27:04,998 --> 02:27:06,838
The reports are included in your packet.

2226
02:27:07,418 --> 02:27:08,408
But you're in violation of the charter.

2227
02:27:08,408 --> 02:27:10,178
Citizen's comments haven't been done either.

2228
02:27:10,518 --> 02:27:10,678
Nope.

2229
02:27:12,478 --> 02:27:12,678
So...

2230
02:27:14,158 --> 02:27:15,118
I'm not going to be a part of this.

2231
02:27:15,258 --> 02:27:16,218
No. No. No,

2232
02:27:17,378 --> 02:27:18,738
this is not right.

2233
02:27:20,298 --> 02:27:21,218
I'm not going to be a part of this.

2234
02:27:21,378 --> 02:27:24,418
No, especially if it was you. That's okay.

2235
02:27:31,518 --> 02:27:35,128
Just leave those, Randi. Yeah, go. I need it anyway.

2236
02:27:42,758 --> 02:27:46,698
I'm going to go ahead and read this anyway because this should be

2237
02:27:46,778 --> 02:27:50,478
public information, and it is, because the DPA was CC'd on

2238
02:27:50,518 --> 02:27:54,398
this. And, this record, this RSC, is a private

2239
02:27:54,478 --> 02:27:57,378
chat, and I've done a public records request, and all

2240
02:27:59,998 --> 02:28:01,358
documentation should be frozen.

2241
02:28:01,438 --> 02:28:05,118
And I'm not saying that it's not public record, but out of common

2242
02:28:05,238 --> 02:28:08,778
decency, out of someone who is

2243
02:28:08,788 --> 02:28:10,038
emotionally disturbed,

2244
02:28:11,678 --> 02:28:13,268
sharing this information with you all

2245
02:28:14,598 --> 02:28:17,998
may not be confidential in the sense of

2246
02:28:18,338 --> 02:28:19,298
public records,

2247
02:28:20,758 --> 02:28:22,508
but out of decency should-

2248
02:28:22,558 --> 02:28:26,078
Okay, what was the decency of her calling a hostile working environment and calling

2249
02:28:26,158 --> 02:28:26,638
two people-

2250
02:28:26,688 --> 02:28:26,688
Okay

2251
02:28:26,688 --> 02:28:28,678
... when we were asking questions of our local staff?

2252
02:28:28,688 --> 02:28:30,018
I could argue that, but I'm not going to.

2253
02:28:30,597 --> 02:28:32,778
There is a certain case that you have also

2254
02:28:33,658 --> 02:28:37,338
considered this environment a hostile workplace,

2255
02:28:37,638 --> 02:28:41,578
but I'm not going to get into that. But there is no difference between what

2256
02:28:41,698 --> 02:28:44,238
you have done and what she has done.

2257
02:28:45,338 --> 02:28:48,558
No, what I do is I make sure it's open to the public.

2258
02:28:49,978 --> 02:28:51,618
And, for the ones that-

2259
02:28:52,058 --> 02:28:52,158
For real?

2260
02:28:52,327 --> 02:28:56,107
... are elected to support the city, and

2261
02:28:56,138 --> 02:28:59,518
they go up and leave is pretty bad. But this right here,

2262
02:29:01,378 --> 02:29:05,178
making a statement of a hostile working environment when we were in a work

2263
02:29:05,258 --> 02:29:07,107
session and we don't even have-

2264
02:29:07,998 --> 02:29:09,818
And that is assumptions, by the way.

2265
02:29:10,278 --> 02:29:11,298
She does mention-

2266
02:29:12,538 --> 02:29:13,078
I asked for-

2267
02:29:13,128 --> 02:29:16,438
... those boys, but there were other instances, too, and I think-

2268
02:29:16,638 --> 02:29:16,648
Okay

2269
02:29:16,648 --> 02:29:18,958
... what you're referring to was her tipping point.

2270
02:29:19,278 --> 02:29:19,368
Yeah.

2271
02:29:19,418 --> 02:29:20,998
She did not list all the-

2272
02:29:21,438 --> 02:29:22,438
She didn't list anything

2273
02:29:22,898 --> 02:29:23,468
... instances. No, she didn't.

2274
02:29:23,468 --> 02:29:23,778
She didn't list anything.

2275
02:29:23,838 --> 02:29:25,128
Right. She kept it very vague.

2276
02:29:25,148 --> 02:29:28,638
But then again, it was on a personal chat, that we don't even know what the other

2277
02:29:28,758 --> 02:29:29,938
chat was about.

2278
02:29:31,738 --> 02:29:32,158
That's it.

2279
02:29:39,118 --> 02:29:42,518
Well, the quorum's not here, so we can't even adjourn.

2280
02:29:42,658 --> 02:29:43,238
City attorney?

2281
02:29:47,618 --> 02:29:51,058
You seem to believe that you are ready to proceed.

2282
02:29:51,938 --> 02:29:55,818
We can't. We don't have a quorum. You have to have X

2283
02:29:55,858 --> 02:29:56,298
amount of,

2284
02:29:57,278 --> 02:29:58,278
because they walked out,

2285
02:30:06,158 --> 02:30:07,278
and we still have business.

2286
02:30:12,218 --> 02:30:14,778
Business. Well, thinking about it, there's nothing...

2287
02:30:15,078 --> 02:30:16,578
I'm going to leave it up to city attorney.

2288
02:30:19,538 --> 02:30:19,667
Well,

2289
02:30:21,898 --> 02:30:23,558
I didn't come prepared for this

2290
02:30:26,998 --> 02:30:27,998
on the Robert's Rules.

2291
02:30:30,558 --> 02:30:32,598
Quorum, the meeting can't go on.

2292
02:30:37,568 --> 02:30:38,647
And then you just do

2293
02:30:38,658 --> 02:30:45,978
it.

2294
02:30:47,978 --> 02:30:51,178
It can't be adjourned. Perhaps we can be in recess until this can be...

2295
02:30:52,618 --> 02:30:54,978
That's the only thing we can do. That's it.

2296
02:30:56,518 --> 02:30:58,538
Recess until somebody comes back.

2297
02:30:59,058 --> 02:30:59,168
Well,

2298
02:31:00,538 --> 02:31:01,858
I don't think it has to be today.

2299
02:31:03,198 --> 02:31:06,988
It don't have to be. It can be postponed to another time, but we have to have

2300
02:31:06,988 --> 02:31:07,658
a...

2301
02:31:08,918 --> 02:31:10,658
What we'll have to do is we'll have to recess

2302
02:31:11,518 --> 02:31:11,978
until

2303
02:31:12,938 --> 02:31:14,118
the quorum comes back.

2304
02:31:17,678 --> 02:31:18,218
We're in recess?

2305
02:31:18,618 --> 02:31:18,938
Yes, sir.

2306
02:31:19,008 --> 02:31:19,358
Recess.

2307
02:31:21,838 --> 02:31:24,798
Yeah, we have to. Yeah. The same as if there's a new

2308
02:31:24,838 --> 02:31:25,938
meeting.

2309
02:31:31,558 --> 02:31:34,698
Someone just dropped

2310
02:31:35,218 --> 02:31:35,848
a bomb head.