[0:02] We'll call to order the August 18th meeting of the Morristown City Council and

[0:08] welcome those of you who are here with us today.

[0:11] We'll begin the meeting as we always do with an invocation followed by the Pledge

[0:17] with an invocation followed by the Pledge to

[0:17] the Flag. Our Councilman Joseph Senter will lead the invocation and Councilman Al

[0:22] A'Hearn will lead the pledge. Let us pray.

[0:25] Heavenly Father, we thank you for bringing us together today.

[0:29] We ask for your wisdom as we begin this council meeting.

[0:33] Give us our leaders clear minds and open hearts.

[0:37] Let us listen to one another with respect.

[0:40] Guide our choices so they serve the best interests of every citizen in our town.

[0:46] Amen. Amen.

[0:47] I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America,

[0:54] I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to

[1:02] the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible,

[1:10] with liberty and justice for all. Council members, let's check in.

[1:17] Oh, present— one absent, 6 present.

[1:21] Councilman Bivens has chronic back difficulties which have been flared

[1:29] up the last 2 days. We'd ask you to keep him in your thoughts.

[1:36] We have an agenda to adopt. Is there a motion to do so?

[1:43] So moved.

[1:44] Motion, A'Hearn. Do we have a second?

[1:46] Second.

[1:46] We do have a second.

[1:49] If there are no additions to that agenda, so indicate your approval.

[1:56] And the agenda is adopted. We open the floor for citizen comments.

[2:04] These are about items that are on the agenda.

[2:09] If anyone wants to speak about those agenda items,

[2:14] Please come to the podium and introduce yourself by name and

[2:21] address. We'll ask you to restrict your comments to those agenda

[2:28] items and please identify which one you're speaking about.

[2:34] The floor is now open. Good evening.

[2:39] Again, Council, my name is Dean Howell, 6816 Resolute Road, Knoxville, Tennessee.

[2:45] I spoke at the, uh, the, the meeting that happened just a little bit ago and, uh,

[2:51] just reiterate those comments that on the agenda item that you were— that's listed,

[2:56] the, uh, ordinance to rezone the property at 350 Howell Road,

[3:01] we ask that that be approved.

[3:03] Um, and, uh, I just reiterate the same comments that I made,

[3:07] that there's property on one side of the Colgate plant that's been allowed to be

[3:12] developed into residential property,

[3:15] and we ask the same on the other side and appreciate, uh,

[3:19] council's consideration of that request and appreciate the opportunity to speak

[3:24] today. Thank you very much.

[3:26] Thank you, Dean. Anyone else?

[3:38] Louis Chan, East First North Street, Morristown, second floor.

[3:44] I would like to talk about the item 10B1,

[3:48] which is the same item as the previous speaker had mentioned,

[3:54] that is related to the rezoning of the Howard Road.

[3:59] I did not even know this item on the schedule until I came in here,

[4:05] but I want to say something, and I'm ready to be wrong.

[4:11] And even if I'm wrong because of the lack of preparing,

[4:16] but the larger principle and the direction for the city would be right and would be

[4:24] absolutely right in my mind,

[4:27] especially considering from the financial Point of view.

[4:32] I want the city to continue to grow,

[4:36] grow much more aggressively from the residential development, more living

[4:43] residential development, more living units,

[4:43] to develop the next industry park. But we have our limit.

[4:49] Okay.

[4:52] We are boxed in, so to speak, by the highway, by the mountain, by the lake,

[4:57] the things that we can overcome.

[4:59] Louie, we need to keep your comments pertaining to this particular item as an

[5:04] pertaining to this particular item as an agenda

[5:04] item.

[5:04] I would want the Harvard Road to be developed, to be rezoned.

[5:11] Therefore, there is a chance to redevelop away from the current

[5:18] purpose as architecture Forest District, because in that zoning,

[5:25] the current A-1, for the pure financial standpoint,

[5:30] point of view calculation, is worth nothing for the city.

[5:37] And we need to have more residents and industry to increase our income

[5:44] base. Our city is on the right path to become a stronger and more and

[5:52] more stable entity. But in order to get to the certain level of the

[5:59] stability, you need to have a certain size.

[6:04] It's a physics, like how big your body is.

[6:09] Therefore, how much of the heat can hold in that mass.

[6:15] We need to have enough more residents,

[6:19] enough residential units to attract them to come in,

[6:24] more jobs to incite them to move in,

[6:28] develop more roads so they don't have to make the unnecessary

[6:35] transport. Until we grow to a certain size, the next level size—

[6:42] Your time has expired. Who's next?

[6:44] Thank you, sir.

[6:45] Anyone else wish to address the council

[6:51] on items that are on the agenda? Anyone?

[7:03] Good evening. Um, my name is Regina Jellicorse Fields.

[7:07] I am— and my family owns the property at 350 Howell Road,

[7:11] which is on the agenda tonight for rezoning from agriculture to residential.

[7:17] I've spent the last 7 years of my career as a physician at Morristown Hamlin

[7:23] Hospital, serving as a hospitalist, as chief of staff,

[7:27] and and medical director of our hospitalist program.

[7:31] And I'm here speaking today for myself, not for the hospital,

[7:35] but just to give you a perspective from the community.

[7:40] Our hospital is busier than ever. That's what growth looks like from where I stand.

[7:46] And alongside that, I work every day with physicians, nurses, ancillary staff,

[7:52] hospital administrators who commute into Morristown because they cannot find

[7:58] Morristown because they cannot find housing

[7:58] here. There are a high number of people that care for our community that don't

[8:04] that care for our community that don't live

[8:04] here because of the housing strains.

[8:07] The Morristown economic development data reports over 19,000 people commuting into

[8:13] Hamlin County to work every day.

[8:16] According to the Census Reporter,

[8:18] Hamlin County has 28,742 housing units And 95% of those are already occupied,

[8:24] leaving 2,110 vacant housing units for the 19,000 commuters.

[8:29] That gap is significant and has its consequences in healthcare and in my line

[8:34] consequences in healthcare and in my line of

[8:35] work. It shows up as harder recruiting,

[8:38] harder time finding nurses and physicians to come and work at our hospital,

[8:43] thinner staffing, and our good.

[8:46] staff leaving for towns where they can afford to live near their work.

[8:51] Our city needs housing,

[8:53] and our builder's plan includes over 400 homes for our community.

[8:58] And that's the first reason I'm asking for you to approve this rezoning.

[9:03] The second is that our buyer and builder have done exactly what the planning

[9:09] department has asked and more.

[9:11] At the department's request,

[9:13] he revised the plan to provide more attainable housing while also

[9:18] attainable housing while also accommodating

[9:19] larger lots Those 2 things pull against each other.

[9:23] Meeting both is more than this rezoning required of him,

[9:27] and he did it anyway in good faith because the department had asked.

[9:32] The 3rd reason is consistency.

[9:35] The commission has already redesigned neighboring land for residential use.

[9:40] Our property is comparable ground,

[9:43] so sound planning treats similar parcels similarly.

[9:47] And we're asking only to be treated the way our neighbors have been.

[9:52] In closing, community need,

[9:54] compliance with what our planning department recommended,

[9:58] and consistency with what you have already approved next door to Colgate.

[10:04] For these 3 reasons, I'm asking— requesting the rezoning should be

[10:09] requesting the rezoning should be approved.

[10:09] Thank you, Regina.

[10:10] Yes, thank you.

[10:11] Anyone else wish to be heard?

[10:14] I don't want to close it and then somebody says,

[10:19] I wish I'd have gotten that. So anyone else?

[10:24] Good afternoon. Jane Howell Chadwell.

[10:26] My family has the property at 350 Howell Road,

[10:29] and I appreciate the opportunity to speak with you.

[10:31] I want to focus on one simple point.

[10:33] This request is not asking Morristown to create a new direction for this area.

[10:37] It is asking to allow our property to respond to the direction Morristown has

[10:41] already taken. Over time, this area has changed significantly.

[10:45] Veterans Parkway was built and improved.

[10:47] The community center and public works facilities are directly to the east.

[10:51] Millstone Village, a high-density residential development,

[10:54] is already being developed nearby.

[10:56] The airport, railroad, Colgate,

[10:57] and other uses are all part of the existing landscape.

[11:00] The city's own description confirms this mix of use— uses surrounding the property.

[11:05] Most importantly, the city's own professional planning staff describes this

[11:09] professional planning staff describes this proposal

[11:09] as infill development and recommends approval because of the surrounding uses,

[11:13] proximity to Veterans Parkway,

[11:15] and the city's ability to serve the property with existing infrastructure.

[11:19] This is nearly 147 acres.

[11:20] It is not a small parcel being carved out for an unrelated use.

[11:23] Leaving this property ag while Morristown has invested in and allowed development

[11:28] around it risks creating exactly the kind of isolated land use pattern that good

[11:32] planning should seek to avoid.

[11:34] We are simply asking to become a part of the growth that has already reached our

[11:38] doorstep. We are not asking our existing neighbors to change for us.

[11:42] We are accepting them as our neighbors and asking for the opportunity to develop

[11:46] alongside of them. Finally, this is personal for my family.

[11:49] Our family has been asked many times to give something from this property for

[11:53] Morristown's growth.

[11:54] We believe it is fair that we now have the opportunity to participate in that growth

[11:59] and receive fair market value for land my parents have cared for all these years.

[12:03] Good planning recognizes that communities evolve. Morristown brought the roads.

[12:07] Morristown built the community amenities.

[12:09] Morristown encouraged growth around this property,

[12:12] and we are now asking Morristown to change course.

[12:15] Thank you.

[12:15] Not to change course. We are asking to be allowed to move forward with it.

[12:19] We respectfully ask for your support for the rezoning. Thank you.

[12:23] Thank you, Jane. Anyone else?

[12:25] Seeing no one come forward,

[12:27] we'll close this portion of the agenda on citizen comments and move on to

[12:33] the minutes of our August 4th meeting. They need approval.

[12:38] Is there a motion by the council?

[12:41] So moved.

[12:42] Motion, A'Hearn. Do we have a second?

[12:44] Second.

[12:45] We do have a second. Any, um, comments from the council or any changes?

[12:52] Hearing none, let's vote. And the minutes are approved.

[12:57] We move under the old business.

[13:00] We have a second and final reading on An ordinance,

[13:06] this being a budget amendment to carry forward some purchase orders.

[13:12] Yes.

[13:13] You recall that this is the amendment necessary to recognize all the purchases

[13:16] necessary to recognize all the purchases and

[13:17] projects that were under— underway already at the end of the last fiscal year.

[13:20] So we'd recommend approval.

[13:21] Is there a motion to accept that recommendation?

[13:23] So moved.

[13:25] Motion, Kay Senter. Do we have a second?

[13:27] Second.

[13:28] We do have a second.

[13:30] Any questions or comments from the council?

[13:34] Hearing none, let's vote.

[13:37] And the motion adopts the ordinance.

[13:41] Next, under new business, we have a couple of resolutions.

[13:47] First, the amended purchasing operation procedures.

[13:52] Yes, this comes as a result of our periodic review of financial policies.

[13:56] Recommendations are minor and include corrections in the section about new

[14:00] corrections in the section about new newspaper

[14:01] publication and introduce flexibility in case state law should change in the future

[14:06] in response to the growing internet-based media.

[14:08] Finance Committee saw this at their last meeting, and we recommend approval.

[14:13] Is there a motion to accept this recommendation?

[14:15] Move for approval.

[14:18] Motion, Kay Senter. Do we have a second?

[14:20] Second.

[14:23] We do have a second. Any questions or comments from the council?

[14:27] Uh, we'll add that, uh,

[14:28] there was some concern expressed about the publication and that we—

[14:33] this is merely to— that we will be following what state law asks us to do.

[14:38] Yes.

[14:39] Yeah, it doesn't affect anything differently that

[14:45] we're doing now. Okay, any other comments?

[14:50] Are we ready to vote? Let's vote.

[14:54] And the motion carries.

[14:57] And we have another amended debt management policy

[15:04] resolution.

[15:05] This also comes as a result of that review of financial policies.

[15:09] Recommendations here mostly address typos.

[15:11] The only substantive change seeks to clarify that the review of the document

[15:15] clarify that the review of the document should

[15:15] be every other year rather than twice per year.

[15:18] There was just an error there with biannually versus biennially.

[15:21] Uh, Finance Committee also saw this and recommends the amendment.

[15:25] Is there a motion to accept this change?

[15:27] So moved.

[15:27] Motion, A'Hearn. Do we have a second?

[15:29] Second.

[15:32] We do have a second. Any questions or comments?

[15:37] Hearing none, let's vote. And that motion carries.

[15:43] Uh, we have 2 ordinances to introduce on first reading.

[15:49] The first one is the rezoning of 350 Howell Road.

[15:55] Uh, yes, sir, Mayor.

[15:57] As City Council may recall, you recently amended the R-2— excuse me,

[16:01] the RD-2 district to give another standalone single-family district,

[16:06] but this district does match the R-2, our medium-density residential district.

[16:11] And lot size, that being 7,500 square feet.

[16:14] Due to this change, the proposed developer of 350 Howe Road is seeking to include

[16:19] this as part of their rezoning request to assure that a portion of this development

[16:25] will be set aside solely for single-family with slightly larger lot sizes than was

[16:30] originally proposed.

[16:32] The new request for this property is to be rezoned from A-1 Agriculture Forestry

[16:37] District to RD-2 for Parcel 1 on the screen and in your packet.

[16:41] Which consists of 93 acres, uh, R-3,

[16:44] our high-density residential district for Parcel 2,

[16:47] which has approximately 36 acres,

[16:49] and intermediate business for Parcel 3 consisting of 17 acres.

[16:53] As I just stated, single-family residential is still planned for Parcel 1,

[16:58] while Parcel 2 will be used for multifamily and Parcel 3 will be set aside

[17:03] multifamily and Parcel 3 will be set aside for

[17:03] commercial purposes.

[17:05] And you can see Parcel 2,

[17:06] the R-3 proposed district and the business district are both along Veterans Parkway.

[17:12] And due to the current and then the future planned growth of Veterans,

[17:17] we believe this type of use along this corridor is appropriate.

[17:21] To recap previously regarding this parcel, the tract is 147 acres in size,

[17:26] currently used as agriculture.

[17:28] Railroad tracks and the airport to the north,

[17:31] vacant parcel and Colgate to the west zoned heavy industrial,

[17:35] public works facility and community center to the east zoned intermediate business,

[17:41] and vacant land to the south within the county's jurisdiction zoned agriculture.

[17:46] It should be noted that if this rezoning does receive approval,

[17:50] a full set of construction plans and a preliminary plat will need to be submitted

[17:56] and approved by Planning staff and Planning Commission prior to any

[18:00] Planning Commission prior to any construction at

[18:01] this location. As I kind of just hinted at,

[18:04] due to the proximity of Veterans Parkway, the surrounding zoning and land uses,

[18:09] and the development being an infill development that the city and Moorestown

[18:14] Utilities, as mentioned earlier, can easily serve,

[18:18] staff does recommend approval of this rezoning request and Planning Commission

[18:23] rezoning request and Planning Commission vote

[18:23] to support this request at their August monthly meeting.

[18:28] Does the council have questions for Josh? Any comments? Yeah, go ahead.

[18:34] I'm sure in the future we're going to have to evaluate the, uh,

[18:38] Veterans Parkway roadway at some point.

[18:41] Yeah, and that— we do have enough right-of-way there to expand it to 4 lanes

[18:47] when it's needed. That's more of an Andrew question, and long-term planning.

[18:53] So, okay, thank you. Who's the developer down there?

[18:58] Uh, who's developing this? Uh, Steve Holgate. Um, he's not local.

[19:04] I believe he's here.

[19:05] Yeah, he's—

[19:09] is there a motion that we accept this recommendation from the Planning

[19:14] recommendation from the Planning Department?

[19:14] Motion, Pedigo. Is there a second?

[19:19] Second.

[19:19] We do have a second. Any other questions or comments from the council?

[19:26] Are we ready to vote? Let's vote. The motion carries.

[19:32] It is set for a public hearing on September 1st,

[19:37] which is our next meeting.

[19:40] We move to the second ordinance,

[19:43] which is an annexation request for Panther Springs Road.

[19:49] Uh, yes, sir, Mayor.

[19:51] Staff has received a request by the property owner, Don Pease Properties,

[19:56] which is Kenny Noah, to annex property located at 330 Panther Springs Road,

[20:01] which is located just north of the Nissan and Hyundai dealerships on West Andrew

[20:06] Johnson Highway. The subject property currently contains a house and a couple

[20:11] accessory buildings, including another residential unit On slightly over 19

[20:16] residential unit On slightly over 19 acres,

[20:16] it's currently zoned Hamlin County A-1,

[20:19] which is their agriculture forestry district.

[20:22] The owner is requesting annexation in order to receive city services.

[20:26] I believe the primary concern is sanitary sewer right now.

[20:30] The properties to the north contain residential uses zoned Hamlin County A-1.

[20:35] There are multiple single-family and duplex units across To the west across

[20:40] duplex units across To the west across Pamphlet

[20:41] Springs, Zone R-2, and OMP, which is our Office Medical Professional District,

[20:46] and the previously mentioned automobile uses to the south and southwest,

[20:51] Zone Intermediate Business.

[20:52] Due to the residential uses and the proximity of the R-2 zoning designations,

[20:58] if annexed, staff does recommend the R-2 District.

[21:01] And looking beyond this initial request, Currently,

[21:04] a portion of both sides of the road— of the right-of-way of Pamphlet Springs Road—

[21:10] is within the city, but the right-of-way itself is not.

[21:13] So staff is also requesting to annex the right-of-way from West Andrew Johnson

[21:18] Highway to the northern boundary of this initial request.

[21:22] The property can be annexed.

[21:24] It is eligible to be annexed within— because it is within the urban growth

[21:29] because it is within the urban growth boundary.

[21:29] Contiguous to existing city limits.

[21:32] Staff recommends approval of this request with the R-2 zoning designation,

[21:37] and Planning Commission also voted in support of this request last week.

[21:41] Does the council have questions in addition to— for Josh?

[21:45] Hearing none, is there a motion that we accept this recommendation?

[21:49] So moved.

[21:52] Motion, A'Hearn. Do we have a second?

[21:53] Second.

[21:55] We do have a second. Any additional questions or comments from the council?

[22:01] Are we ready to vote? Let's vote.

[22:04] That ordinance is approved on first reading,

[22:08] and it is set for public hearing on the annexation and the plan of services

[22:15] for September 1st. We have the next ordinance is a special use permit.

[22:22] Andrew?

[22:22] I This amendment was covered in the August 4th work session with council as

[22:26] presented, uh, recommendation from Chief Overholt and City Attorney Carroll.

[22:31] Uh, we also have a copy of the redlined version before you on the dais.

[22:35] Uh, and I defer to them for any questions you may have on that, but, uh,

[22:39] it comes with their recommendation for approval.

[22:42] Is there a motion to accept this recommendation?

[22:44] So moved.

[22:46] Motion, Pedigo. Do we have a second?

[22:47] Second.

[22:49] We do have a second. Any questions or comments from the council?

[22:52] Yes, sir. On the last line, it's, it's in black,

[22:55] said we need to list how notifications will be made.

[22:58] Is that what the red— that we're— I'm assuming that's what the red's doing,

[23:03] the red text around that.

[23:04] So I think what the chief had done,

[23:06] that was just him listing how they would be made.

[23:09] And so what I put into the actual ordinance states that notification shall

[23:13] ordinance states that notification shall be made

[23:13] to the administrator or his designee.

[23:15] Okay, so that's taken care of above.

[23:18] Yes.

[23:18] In the actual ordinance. Thank you.

[23:21] Any other questions? Are we ready to vote? Let's vote.

[23:27] That motion and ordinance is approved.

[23:31] Then we have another budget amendment ordinance.

[23:36] This is for the general fund and the solid waste fund.

[23:42] This amendment recognizes fire department grants and donations received,

[23:46] as well as the The use of those funds,

[23:48] and also a portion of the downtown improvement grant that was not expended

[23:52] improvement grant that was not expended prior to

[23:52] the end of last fiscal year.

[23:54] It also increases expenditures to cover contracted mowing within Public Works that

[23:58] was overlooked in the budget process.

[24:01] Last fiscal year, City Council also appropriated funds for right-of-way for

[24:05] appropriated funds for right-of-way for the

[24:05] Central Church Road project, as well as the east-west sidewalk project.

[24:09] But because we didn't execute those acquisitions prior to year-end,

[24:12] the funds rolled back to the fund balance.

[24:15] Okay.

[24:15] And this amendment reappropriates the dollars that were remaining there.

[24:19] Finally, this amendment inserts a general supervisor position into the Solid Waste

[24:23] Fund. In recent years,

[24:25] the position supervising solid waste was funded out of Public Works,

[24:28] out of the Street Repair and Maintenance Division,

[24:31] and the superintendent over Street Repair and Maintenance was funded out of Brush

[24:36] and Bulk. So this change doesn't create a new position.

[24:39] It simply puts the positions in the—

[24:41] Yes.

[24:41] proper places over the individuals they supervise.

[24:44] Uh, so we recommend approval of this budget amendment.

[24:48] Is there a motion to accept this recommendation?

[24:50] So moved.

[24:53] Motion, Kay Senter. Do we have a second?

[24:55] Second.

[24:55] We do have a second. Any additional questions or comments from the council?

[24:59] Uh, yes, sir. Um, the mowing contract,

[25:01] that's not just the mowing contract for Central Church Road, that's overall

[25:06] Central Church Road, that's overall mowing.

[25:07] No, that's— the mowing is not related to Central Church Road.

[25:09] Okay.

[25:10] Um, there's various right-of-ways throughout the city that are under mowing

[25:14] contract. There are certain parks that are under mowing contracts.

[25:17] Um, and so the mowing contract really ends up getting divided between about 3

[25:21] different departments throughout the city.

[25:24] And somehow we just overlooked a dollar amount that was supposed—

[25:27] that's typically part of the public works budget.

[25:30] Thank you.

[25:31] Are we ready to vote? Let's vote.

[25:35] And that motion carries.

[25:38] We have some bids and contracts to award.

[25:43] First is the improvements on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

[25:51] Parkway.

[25:52] I guess this project was discussed and presented in a council work session back

[25:57] presented in a council work session back in

[25:57] June of '25. You'll recall it intends to address new traffic that's come to the

[26:02] address new traffic that's come to the area

[26:02] with recent developments and safety concerns at multiple intersections.

[26:07] Closing the south end of Jarnigan will prevent Jarnigan from continuing to be

[26:12] prevent Jarnigan from continuing to be used

[26:12] as a cut-through between MLK and Morris.

[26:15] Changing the stopping pattern at Lincoln and Jarnigan will work a little more

[26:20] naturally with the width of Lincoln that exists there.

[26:24] Then signalizing.

[26:26] The intersection at Lincoln and MLK and Thomas R.

[26:29] James will help safety— safely control traffic movement through that

[26:34] traffic movement through that intersection.

[26:35] A new center turn lane on MLK will give better protection to vehicles that are

[26:40] turning left into Morristown Utilities facilities.

[26:43] The bids are within the engineer's estimate.

[26:46] We will, however, need to transfer another $135,000 at some point into our capital

[26:51] projects fund to cover that.

[26:53] Okay.

[26:54] Uh, because of course, as time has passed,

[26:56] the funding we set aside initially is not going to quite cover that.

[26:59] But I would defer to a later amendment in the year to, uh, to cover those, uh,

[27:03] kind of see how— if we have some savings we can cover that with in the meantime.

[27:08] So with that, we'd recommend approval of this awarding bid.

[27:11] Is there a motion to accept this

[27:14] recommendation? So the motion, Pedigo.

[27:17] Do we have a second?

[27:20] Second.

[27:20] We do have a second. Questions or comments from the council?

[27:24] It's been a long time coming.

[27:27] Let's vote. And that motion carries.

[27:34] Tyler Technologies contract amendment.

[27:41] Intergov is the name of the program that's It's used predominantly by planning,

[27:46] engineering, inspections, and code enforcement to track permits, inspections,

[27:51] and cases. The data lives on 4 in-house servers, which are no longer supported.

[27:56] Rather than replace the 4 on-premises servers at a cost of nearly $200,000,

[28:00] we're recommending to move this system to the cloud. The recurring fee is $61,612.

[28:06] We believe this will result in more seamless support from Tyler.

[28:10] Uh, as well as better updating, uh, whenever those—

[28:13] whenever they have updates to provide to us. Uh, so we'd recommend approval.

[28:17] Is there a motion to accept this recommendation?

[28:19] So moved.

[28:23] Motion, Pedigo. Do we have a second?

[28:24] Second.

[28:26] We do have a second.

[28:28] Any questions or comments from the council?

[28:33] Hearing none, let's vote. That motion carries.

[28:38] Item 3 is the Microsoft license renewals.

[28:42] Yes, we rebid this item. We've received 16 quotes.

[28:47] We recommend Jam Tech Enterprises at a cost of $37,920 for year 1 and

[28:53] $42,660 for year 2.

[28:55] Is there a motion to accept this?

[28:58] So moved.

[29:01] Motion, Kay Senter. Do we have a second?

[29:03] Second.

[29:03] We do have a second. Questions or comments from the council?

[29:09] Hearing none, let's vote. And that motion carries.

[29:14] We have a change order for the Frank Loreno Park renovation

[29:20] project.

[29:21] We are excited to move this project along and hopefully get completion later this

[29:26] fall, but this change order encompasses 4 different change directives that have Yes.

[29:31] The change order 1 quantities that were already approved by council have been

[29:36] reconciled back to the total quantities actually needed,

[29:39] resulting in a cost reduction of about $65,000.

[29:42] There was a rock hammer that was required to remove rock in an embankment near the

[29:47] football field at an additional cost.

[29:49] It was determined that there was a better method to sod the football field instead

[29:54] of seeding and strawing,

[29:55] and then offset that with some sod that was not necessary in another location.

[30:00] And then we also had some changes to the design of some of the sanitary sewer.

[30:04] Uh, overall, you can capture all of those change directives,

[30:08] and this is actually a cost reduction. I think I misspoke at the last meeting.

[30:13] It's actually a cost reduction of $13,513.39. Uh, we'd recommend approval.

[30:17] Is there a motion to accept this recommendation? Motion, Pedigo.

[30:22] Do we have a second?

[30:24] Second.

[30:25] We do have a second. Any questions or comments?

[30:30] Hearing none, let's vote. And that motion is approved.

[30:37] Continuing under these items, number 5,

[30:41] concerning the surplus and rescinding prior surplus.

[30:47] Of the hoop tables and trash cans.

[30:51] Uh, yes, this list includes 9 vehicles,

[30:54] 1 Parks and Recreation truck and 8 Police Department vehicles.

[30:57] Our Fleet Division does a pretty good job of kind of poaching all the goods from

[31:02] these— a lot of these vehicles before we dispose of them.

[31:05] This item also does include the rescission of some previously approved surplus from

[31:10] the Landing. We've found some other uses at the Fire Department and Parks and Rec

[31:14] for a basketball All gold and some minor furniture items. We'd recommend approval.

[31:19] Is there a motion to accept the recommendation?

[31:21] So moved.

[31:23] Motion, Kay Senter. Do we have a second?

[31:25] Second.

[31:26] We do have a second.

[31:29] Any comments or questions on this one from the council?

[31:35] Hearing none, let's vote. And that motion carries.

[31:42] Under 6, CDBG Public Services subrecipient agreement.

[31:48] You'll recall that we've partnered with Central Services for many years providing

[31:53] CDBG funding to help prevent homelessness.

[31:55] The program provides—

[31:56] this program provides emergency utility assistance and rent assistance to prevent

[32:01] eviction for low-to-moderate income households,

[32:04] thereby helping people remain in their homes.

[32:06] Uh, Central Services has provided this public service for many years and helped

[32:11] thousands of people in our community. We recommend approval.

[32:14] Is there a motion to approve this recommendation?

[32:16] So moved.

[32:17] Motion, Joe Senter. Is there a second?

[32:19] Second.

[32:21] We do have a second. Any questions or comments from the council?

[32:27] Hearing none, let's vote. And that motion carries.

[32:32] And finally, we have a temporary right-of-way closure request for

[32:39] Peavine Alley.

[32:40] Yes, on July 7th, Council authorized an extended closure through August 21st due

[32:44] extended closure through August 21st due to

[32:44] longer construction timelines on the project there.

[32:47] The applicant has requested to extend the closure through October 1st.

[32:51] Properties in the vicinity have been notified that this would be under

[32:55] notified that this would be under consideration

[32:55] today, and no conditions are known have changed that should prevent the extension.

[33:00] Is there a motion to approve this request?

[33:03] So moved.

[33:07] Motion, A'Hearn. Do we have a second?

[33:09] Second.

[33:10] We do have a second. Questions or comments from the council?

[33:16] Hearing none, let's vote. And the motion carries.

[33:20] We have no appointments to make today.

[33:24] We move to new issues, uh, the only one there being the, uh,

[33:29] an amendment to the internal control policy manual.

[33:34] It's just like the other, uh, 2 items we had earlier on the agenda,

[33:38] or financial policies that we'd reviewed. Internal control policy was another.

[33:43] Uh, organizational and operational changes within the city in recent years brought

[33:48] to light the need to update the manual,

[33:50] recognizing Improvements to various internal control measures.

[33:54] These changes address certain changes in personnel roles, purchasing card controls,

[33:59] timing and other procedural changes that relate to newer software-driven processes,

[34:04] IT system access controls, grant-related controls,

[34:07] clarifications to processes related to budgeting, inventory, and capital assets.

[34:12] Okay.

[34:15] We'd recommend these approvals.

[34:16] And Finance Committee also saw this at their last meeting and recommends

[34:19] their last meeting and recommends adoption.

[34:20] Is there a motion to approve this recommendation?

[34:22] So moved.

[34:26] Motion, Pedigo. Do we have a second?

[34:28] Second.

[34:28] We do have a second. Any questions or comments?

[34:35] Hearing none, let's vote.

[34:39] And that motion is approved.

[34:43] We come to the city administrator's report.

[34:49] Yeah, a few things. But first, uh,

[34:51] I'll go back to that change order for the Frank Laurino Park.

[34:55] And I, I started second-guessing myself there, and sure enough,

[34:58] I had 2 different numbers on my memo.

[35:01] But, uh, going to the, the, um, the architects, uh, engineers Record,

[35:05] it is a savings of $11,513.39, not $13,000. So I want to put that out there.

[35:09] Um, see my report, uh, fiscal year '27 paving is now underway.

[35:13] North Norlock and Mall Road have been completed this week.

[35:17] Chestnut, North Park, Anderson, East 6th North, and Gammon should get underway.

[35:21] Um, a few notes, uh, Regarding staff,

[35:24] I wanted to issue a kudos to Nick Beale in Public Works.

[35:27] Following some stormy weather we had last week,

[35:30] there was a large limb down in the yard along his garbage route,

[35:34] and Nick went out of his way to get out of the truck,

[35:37] retrieve the limb out of the yard,

[35:39] pull it closer to the street where the knuckle boom would be able to reach it

[35:44] knuckle boom would be able to reach it when

[35:44] it came by. The resident reached out to Paul and just singing Nick's praises for

[35:49] Paul and just singing Nick's praises for his

[35:49] effort because she said she was disabled and she wouldn't have been able to get out

[35:54] there in the yard and pull it out herself.

[35:57] So we appreciate his, his effort to take care of the folks on his route.

[36:01] Um, I wanted to also congratulate Captain Clyde Shorten, Police Department,

[36:06] and building official Mark Johns on their selection to the 2026 class for Leadership

[36:11] Morristown. That program provides a great insight and behind-the-scenes look at

[36:15] various facets of the community.

[36:17] We're glad they'll be able to participate this year.

[36:21] And then one other note, and Some of you may have already seen this.

[36:25] There was appreciation given to the police department this year from the city of

[36:30] Wheaton, Illinois. Their police chief, Chief Euchre,

[36:33] wrote a letter thanking the department and 10 personnel in particular for

[36:37] considerable efforts to assist the Wheaton Police Department in apprehending a

[36:42] suspect that had fled to Morristown.

[36:44] And they named specifically Deputy Chief Jones, Officer Shockley, Lieutenant

[36:49] Jones, Officer Shockley, Lieutenant Bowman,

[36:49] Officer Young, Captain Selfridge, Officer Cole, Detective Sergeant—

[36:53] Detective Sergeant Bean, Detective Ackard, Sergeant Coyne, and Detective Webb.

[36:58] And he wrote— they wrote quite a bit to us, but, uh, in particular,

[37:02] kind of rounded out here at the bottom, says,

[37:05] please convey our gratitude to each of these individuals for their exceptional

[37:09] service, professionalism, unwavering dedication to the pursuit of justice.

[37:14] Their efforts were invaluable and exemplified the very best of law

[37:18] exemplified the very best of law enforcement

[37:19] profession. So much appreciation to, to the police department and these folks.

[37:24] Amen.

[37:24] I say that.

[37:24] Thank you.

[37:26] That's my report. Do these line item transfers require a vote?

[37:34] Oh, I'm sorry. No, the line item transfers do not require a vote,

[37:38] and I forgot to mention them.

[37:40] The, uh, the first batch, 2026, are the, uh,

[37:42] they're a series of line item transfers that That close out FY26 for us.

[37:47] You had amendments on the budget that close out that too.

[37:50] All right, then the next are the second batch,

[37:53] are the first list of line item transfers within the FY27 budget.

[37:57] All right, we move to comments from, um, uh, the public.

[38:01] Uh, if there are any citizen comments about any particular item,

[38:06] does not necessarily have to be an agenda item, again,

[38:10] the procedure is 3 minutes. Name and address. Floor is open.

[38:14] East Personal Street, Marstow.

[38:17] I want to talk about, once again, about a 2% discount on the real estate tax.

[38:23] I don't think that is something we should keep.

[38:28] But before I talk about whether we should keep it or not,

[38:33] I want to talk about something more basic—

[38:36] how we see everything It depends on how we see ourselves. What is our road?

[38:43] Am I just someone born in 1965 and I speak Chinese, work, came to United States,

[38:50] work in the restaurant, don't speak English at all,

[38:55] and I have to force myself to open my mouth,

[38:58] make a lot of fool to express myself in the broken English, no one understand me,

[39:06] Again and again, or just restrained myself?

[39:09] I ask myself this question again and again,

[39:13] and I would like to ask the same question, I would like to ask all of you guys,

[39:20] especially the one who making the decision sitting on that platform.

[39:26] Ask yourself, who are you?

[39:28] Thank you.

[39:31] You are an elected council member, but before that,

[39:37] you are an individual in the role in this political system as a citizen.

[39:45] Think about the 2% not as whether it is a thing that can affect your

[39:53] Voting results, whether he reelect or not.

[39:57] Think about whether it is right thing to do for the citizen,

[40:04] for this country, in a much smaller scale in the city level.

[40:11] It is long-term, whether it's right or not.

[40:15] And then focusing on the financial one, on what is the cost.

[40:22] Don't just say 2%. What is the real cost in the short term,

[40:28] in the 1-year annualized? That is not 2%, that is 6%.

[40:34] Because you give the 2% for early payment for 4 months,

[40:40] annualized at 6%. And then it started to give that discount from 1945.

[40:48] Actually, the discount started Much more earlier, from the 1800s.

[40:55] But it is inked into the law in 1945. What is the compounded cost?

[41:03] What is the cost on the opportunity cost?

[41:07] That is the more important thing. Do the right thing.

[41:13] Ask Thank you, Louie. Who's next? Anyone else wish to be heard?

[41:18] See no one come forward.

[41:21] I will close this portion of the meeting and we'll go to comments from council

[41:27] members and/or the mayor.

[41:29] Council members, any comments you wish to make about any item?

[41:35] Mayor, um, I'd like to say that we had a very successful birthday celebration at

[41:40] Crockett Cavern on Saturday, Davy turned 240 years old.

[41:43] And I had an enlightening moment.

[41:45] One of my former students arrived with their 5-year-old granddaughter,

[41:50] had cute pink-rimmed glasses, and she was very, very shy until—

[41:54] so I was trying to talk to her.

[41:56] And then I said, you know, Davy's 240 years old today,

[41:59] and we're celebrating his birthday. And she looks at me and she said— 240 years

[42:04] she looks at me and she said— 240 years old?

[42:04] You know he's dead. And I said, yes.

[42:06] And I took a deep breath and I talked about reenactment and living history and

[42:11] about reenactment and living history and so

[42:12] forth like this. But she was precious, absolutely precious, and immediately

[42:16] absolutely precious, and immediately serious.

[42:17] Uh, I'd like to bring to light—

[42:19] I've had some questions and calls about the line of sight at Norfolk Road.

[42:23] I know we're eventually— and I told the citizen who called,

[42:27] we're going to close that road eventually.

[42:30] But right now with the construction,

[42:32] and that still an open roadway over the railroad,

[42:35] there is a line of sight situation with the fence there at Burke Line.

[42:39] And I don't know what we can do about it, but trying to turn—

[42:43] I can't remember which way it was.

[42:45] He says right, but out of there is very, very hard to do.

[42:49] So I don't know where the fence is. Just bring that to your attention.

[42:53] Got it.

[42:54] And the other thing,

[42:55] I think that I would just like to thank the Howell family and the developer and

[43:00] the Howell family and the developer and the

[43:01] way that they worked with the Planning Commission and accepted that and then took

[43:06] Commission and accepted that and then took it

[43:06] back and applied it to their property in order to provide us on their behalf a

[43:12] development that's going to be very complementary and very beneficial, I

[43:17] complementary and very beneficial, I think,

[43:17] to the community. And I think that the decision to go with the R-2D with the

[43:22] 7,500-square-foot lots is very— a good move on our part and will help us.

[43:27] Thank you, Planning Commission, and to the Howe family,

[43:31] and for our being able to work with them. Thank you.

[43:35] Anyone else? Hearing none,

[43:37] if there are no further items to come before the council,

[43:42] I'll entertain a motion that we stand adjourned.

Regular Meeting

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