Woodbury Budget Passes Second Reading; Burnett Home From Hospital



The Board of Mayor and Alderman met in regular session Tuesday night. The meeting was opened by Mayor Patrick and the roll was called. Present were Jo Ann Davis, Dotty Duggin, Lois Larimer, Faye Knox, Charlie Harrell and the Mayor. Absent from the meeting was Clayton Cason.

A motion was made by Jo Ann Davis and seconded by Lois Larimer to approve the minutes from the last meeting. All were in favor and the motion passed.

The board considered and granted the Veterans of Cannon County a parade permit, which is held each year on the Saturday closest to Veterans Day, which is November 11.

The board also granted a roadblock permit for the AAU Basketball Team which consists of all local players who will also play for the Lionettes basketball team. The team came in second place and has won a berth in the Nationals in Orlando, Florida between the dates of July 9-15. The roadblock will help pay their way which is estimated to be $2,800. The road block will be held Friday.

Mr. Guy Alexander was given permission to come before the board concerning cleaning up property that is near his property on Mason and Powell streets in Woodbury. Alexander addressed the board and asked for their help in getting property cleaned up which he says is devaluing his property. He also included in his request copies of the Ordinance of maintaining property in the city.

He wants the city to maintain their right of way cleanup as is stated in the ordinance and he wants the Chief of Police to enforce the regulations by citing the person responsible for the property into court if they do not follow the rules of maintaining said property.

The board agreed with Mr. Alexander and talked to the Assistant Chief Darrell Young and to the City Utility Supervisor Alan Paschal about seeing into this matter. The mayor said that everyone will be treated the same in this matter.

A public hearing is necessary when appropriating funds to operate the city for the next fiscal year of operations for the departments in Woodbury. Ordinance 430 is such a document.

Two people in the audience addressed the board. First was Carolyn Motley who was representing the Chamber of Commerce. Mrs. Motley advised the board that the Chamber is losing members due to the economy and because some businesses have failed. The Chamber is usually run on membership dues exclusively; however this has never really been the way that the Cannon County Chamber has been run. The city gives the Chamber $1,000 a year while the County only gives $50.00 a year. She requested the board of alderman an additional $2,000.00. The board will take it under advisement.

Next was Lisa Baird of SAVE. Ms. Baird also addressed the board about funds for her Domestic Abuse Program. However Ms. Baird did not give a specific amount, she asked for anything the board could give her.

At this time the Public meeting was closed. The mayor called for a vote on adopting Ordinance 430 for the second and final reading. Roll was called and all voted aye.

The board also voted and adopted Ordinance 431 on first reading, an ordinance amending the original budget ordinance for the Town of Woodbury, for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2010. All voted aye.

There was no new business and the mayor called for the department heads to give the reports to the board. Fire Chief Bill Johnson addressed the board and informed them that the fire truck they purchased was in fine running order and will make a good addition to the fleet. Also the Chief informed the board that they had received a partial grant for equipment from the federal government in the amount of $37,500. They have not received any other information on the new fire station, but the Chief advises that it will be voted on near October and that they are still in the running for the grant.

Assistant Chief Young and Mayor Patrick reported that Chief Burnett came home from the hospital Tuesday in which he was a patient for nine days. He had contracted Lyme disease; a bacterial infection that comes from being bitten by a tick. They reported he was really weak and that he would recuperate at home for a couple of days before he came back to work.

Having no further business the meeting was adjourned, the meeting took 55 minutes.