Good evening. Today is Tuesday, September 2nd at 6:01 p.m. We're going to call to order the city of Wilson's council meeting. We have roll call by Miss Latricia, right?
>> Mayor Goodman, >> I am here. I'm still here. >> Council President Hines >> here. >> Vice President Cox >> here. >> Council member Jones >> here. >> Council member Martin
>> here. >> Council member Rikio, she's absent. City Manager Sue Bodet, she's absent. Attorney Kirsten Belaloo >> here. >> City Clerk Latricia Wright, I am here. And all other staff
>> here. Thank you. >> We will have opening prayer and pledge of allegiance to the flag Mayor Charles Goodman. >> Thank you, Madam President. If you wish, feel free to join.
Lord, we come to you today struggling to make decisions. Sometimes we make wise ones, sometimes we do not. But Lord, you know in our hearts, in each one of these council members hearts.
They do the best that they know how. So I ask you to be with them to give them the strength and the wisdom to make the decisions that they must make for all 3,000
plus of our residents. And Lord, recently I witnessed what I had prayed about over and over in these meetings where one of our officers
had to go up to someone who claimed they had a gun and he was trying to avoid bloodshed. And through the courage of this officer, no blood was shed.
So I thank you for the wisdom of our police chief and our police officers and for their courage and conviction. I ask all this in your name. Amen. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the
United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Thank you. >> Okay. At this time, we're going to have
additions, deletions, changes, and approval of the agenda. >> Madame President, there are two additions. Um, resolution 2025 uh 94 and 202593.
Um, at the council will um let staff know where if you would like these on the agenda. The materials for these came in after our um agenda deadline, but we we did find them to be timesensitive and wanted you all to be able to consider them.
>> So, with approval of the addition, um we'll place them as B and C and move the other. Do I have to say that? Make them B and
C. We'll make them B and C and move B and C >> move approval of the agenda with those two additions. >> Second. >> I have a motion and a second. Any discussion from the public council?
If none, we move to vote. All those in favor say I. >> I. >> All those oppose say nay. We approve the changes. Um 4. At this time, we'll have public
participation. Um, you have five minutes to speak on anything that is not on the agenda. Please make sure that you make all of your comments. Uh, yes. My name is Joel Penny. I live at 43 Northwest 4 Street, Louis, Florida. So, I've came up here for the
past four months about the fence around the pit. Uh, none of y'all have talked to Mr. Barber about it or discussed anything about it. I feel like I'm coming up here just getting anywhere, nowhere. y'all are not doing those jobs. Uh, I just was
wondering, uh, isn't there time limits on y'all, like two years or something like that for y'all to be on council? >> You mean how often do we run? >> Well, isn't like two years supposed to get off and then let
No, >> there's no term on that at all. Is there a way we can address that and make the term limit >> on the on the agenda? >> I just feel like every time I come up here just say something. >> Mr. Barbara is here and he was at the
last meeting as well. Why should we tell him something he's hurt? >> Because y'all are supposed to talk to him about asking about how we can start getting put up. Nobody's mentioned anything to him about. It's been four months.
Yeah. >> Are you Are you done? >> Yeah. I mean, I just want to know why. I mean, don't have any. >> So, after if you're completely done because you still have three minutes to speak. >> Okay. So, after we address you, then there's no more conversation. So, that's
why I'm asking >> if you would like to address this. I just want to comment that we don't run the city on dayto day. The city manager does. The city manager tells people what to
do. We don't. We don't tell employees what to do. I wish we did. We probably could get things done a lot faster, but that is not our job. Um it is not our job to tell employees what to do. We can make suggestions to the city manager, but the city manager runs
the day-to-day operation of the city and the department heads under the the city manager run their departments. All I'll say >> anyone else on the council. >> Thank you, M. Is there anyone else?
Hi, I'm Ken Van. I'm from County. I go to the church in Will. And I'd like to propose that the pioneers be labeled the high school new mask instead of red devils.
Uh the Ley County taxes support the local schools and I think red devils is is insulting to the churches of Ley County and um it's also insulting to the Boy
Scouts and the Girl Scouts. I think the pioneers be a better name for them and the mascot will be a wagon very sooner. That's encouraging for the future.
Thank >> ma'am. I'm sorry. Could I get your name again? >> N capital V I N. >> Thank you ma'am. I have a question. Do we have any jurisdiction over the school? That's a county issue. Correct.
>> We do. >> Is there anyone else? >> Yes. My name is Timothy Ecker 225 Northwest Second Street. Uh I've come up here several times about the water and stuff and everybody says it's up the code which I disagree and much everybody else knows it's not. So I just got a few
questions. Where do I begin? Where's the great infrastructure to support all the vehicles insurance city employees 131? You, the city council, previous manager and current manager, supervisors run Willist completely into the ground by
mismanagement. No business really wants to come here. The high water electric is out of control. Willist is barely surviving due to no proper planning. Example, out of date out of date uh water, no real plan to bring it up to modern standard with
schedule 80 pipe, which costs have more than doubled since 2023. metal pipes that are averaging in the 1950s. I looked it up on Google for Willis. Wilson needs supervisors that can lead by example, not excuses.
Question: Is the city prepared for extreme emergency like scenario? What if Wilson has a dozen water leaks at one time? Shutting down all the Willis, all are y'all prepared. Worst case scenario, do
you have any supplies ready on hand? Then what happens if the patches are three times worse than what they are into a snowball effect? Who's accountable? The city council is 100%. The city manager is 100%. Administration is 100%
and the supervisor water 100%. And you are not prepared. Example, Southeast uh Second Street 329. They went fixed where the hydrate is dropped side of the house. They had to order the pipe. The prime prime example. And then right in front of sister's place, they fixed a
patch and it's already leaking again right there by the highway. Been leaking now for three weeks. There's six P's in work. Six P's in work that is not practice here. Proper planning prevents pissport production which relates either to loss of money or making money. God
help Willis. God help the citizen. Give me a conser concern citizen for the people. Thank you, sir. Anyone have any? Does there anyone else who would like to speak? >> Good evening. Um, Jack and Anthony, I'm
just really just attending tonight to give updates on a few of the things that I've been working with. Um, to thank a couple of people. Um, we've been working continue with the softball team. I think we have a game that's coming up on the 24th and I think we know the location will be at youth field. Um coach will
get more information on that. We'll work with Jonathan again continue to work at the park. So water is out there now. We're working on that project. Just more to update um on the type program that I started and have working with Chief Road
the Young Pioneer. We're working on that project continue. So just an update. I told you guys I keep you updated on those. um little activities and projects that we continue to do to keep people simple and environment in our community. Thank you.
>> Yes, Chief Rose and I are still working on movie night. We right now we're working on making sure that all my paperwork is in order. Um dealing with the insurance thing, but he's going to help walk me through and Mr. Trisha on how we need to get that step. But the movie night will be coming up. I'll let
you guys know. I will let you know. You're gonna let me drop that ball on movie night. >> And it will be like I said, I will let everyone know. Thank you. Is there anyone else?
Is there anyone else? If not, we will move forward. So, next is going to be the consent agenda. Council minutes from August 19th, 2025. Resolution 2025-92. A resolution of the city of a resolution
of city council of city of Wilson order approving Willist area 1 septic to sewer conversional proposal from Wright Purus. Hey, and ask a question for sure. Is it is it coer to ask a question?
Okay. Tell me where area one is because nowhere did I read that. And I know two or three areas that are septic to sewer needed. There are three areas specifically on the grant cycles. The area one is the area that covers the
northeast. It would start from approximately northeast 8th Street to go over to beyond the old middle school and do the neighborhood that we service just south of the old middle school. So that would be area one. Area two when you see
it later on will be the northeast from the old mayor's area of Mr. Heath Coat Street and on through to uh Northwoods and behind Homestead Park. And then area three is Northwest 7th Boulevard that
you'll see later. Uh that goes up and all the way to the county. Thank you, sir. >> I move approval of the consent agenda as presid. >> Any further discussion? If none, I move to vote. All those in
favor say I. >> I. >> I. All those oppose say nay. Motion passes four to zero. At this time, we're going to do the updates, staff and board and council updates. We'll start with Miss Vicky
Corbin and that's what you get sitting in that chair. >> If she has nothing then our city attorney Carrison, do you have anything? I just wanted to let you all know that um just as an update, your report from
your um independent investigation will be available um sometime before the next council meeting. So that will be sent out just to reiterate again at the same time to all the council members and the charter officers and then you are and
the mayor um and you are welcome to disclose as please. It is public record at that. >> That's right. This is really a announcement. Florida League of Cities, United Forces
for Florida Municipal Government recently appointed several of our council members to their legislative committees. And I just want to announce that President Hines was appointed to the
development code compliance and redevelopment committee. Vice President Cox was appointed to the municipal operations policy committee. Council member Martin and city manager Sue Boddet was appointed to the
utilities natural resources resources and public works committee and council member Jones was appointed to the intergovernmental relations mobility and emergency management committee. So congratulations to you
all. Thank you very much for being on board when I asked you all to sign up for a committee. I really appreciate that. >> How about yourself? >> And I am again back on the development code compliance and
redevelopment committee. So thank you. >> Thank you. [Applause] I just want to make one comment about that. To see so many me people from one small town, from one small council on
the Florida League of Cities legislative committee is almost unheard of. Um they are appointed by the president. We have a new president who was just sworn in in August and we all had to make application uh for that new president. Um and and we have some of us
have served before. It is a threemonth commitment and then a legislative conference following that three months. And I have learned so much by attending those sessions that it's unbelievable. So I just wanted to say I'm really proud
that we are mighty in numbers. >> You have anything any other staff? Yes, Miss Pam. >> The first thing that I would like to acknowledge is the electric department. They have everything but two make ready
pools completed. So, a small win for us. Um, and also what is uh in front of you, I handed out there's two pack three packets. The one with the handwriting on it is uh with their
names, Cody and then Kurt. The first page is where Mike and I sat down and configured what uh the hours were. And then the second page has Cody's uh calculations.
And when you go to the smaller print, this is where I kind of created a calculation of my own based on the number of what uh Mike Miller and I did for the figuring out the hourly wages. And then in the separate packet where
it's real small that is stapled, um this is Steven Bloom's soft numbers that we got at noon noonish today. I'd like to add this to the agenda if we can. >> Is that possible?
And I add that at the end. >> Sure. >> Wait, aren't they already on there? >> No, but the certifications are on here, but not the dollars. >> So, that's another thing. Um,
>> if you all would like to discuss >> both of those at the same time when Kim is doing her presentation. >> Is that okay with you? >> Yes, ma'am. >> Thank you. >> Yes. Just an announcement. Uh for this
Saturday, September 6th, at 11:00 a.m., Williston Fiverr will be hosting an open house here at City Hall in the community room and here in the lobby uh atrium of City Hall. Um that is open to anyone in the public and we look forward to people coming having a presentation and as
having any questions that they may have answered about it. Uh hopefully we'll be able to answer those questions. So it's it is out on Facebook. Um, but uh for anyone who wants to come and be a part of that, there will be some refreshments and whatnot, sir. >> Okay. Thank you so much. >> What time was it again?
>> 11:00 a.m. Uh, on Saturday, September 6th. >> We got a lot of input that they wanted it during when they could come and when they weren't actually at work. So, we wanted to make sure we facilitated that. >> Appreciate that. >> Can I
post every day Facebook? So, if we could just get posted each day, just reminder people, >> we will do that the rest of the week leading up to it. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Anyone from the council? >> Wawa is coming.
>> Thank you. Appreciate that. >> You've read otherwise, but they are coming. BJ spoke to them personally after I um we saw what we saw on Facebook and we were called every name in the book. Um but she called. Yes, the
permit has been ready for months. It was waiting for them to give us. They couldn't decide who their contractor was going to be. Once they decided that and gave us the license number of that contractor, as far as we're concerned, we're ready to go.
Um, I hope to see some movement up there soon. Um, so we don't have to hear this anymore. >> Anyone else on the council? >> Mr. Mayor, do you have anything?
[Music] >> I don't want to be a bazooka again. >> Yes, I do. Thank you. Honorable President Hines, council members, I want to take a moment to thank you for
the time to address an item that is dear to my heart, the Williston Animal Shelter, that this city donated a great deal of money to help it become a reality.
As I see the issue, the idea of one manager and two part-time workers is unsustainable to adequately run a 16 dog plus cat shelter.
It is just unsustainable, but that is of course for the council to decide. I have some knowledge of what it takes to maintain a shelter and help to get the animals into forever
homes. First on my heart is the animals. To get these adopted into homes, they must be socialized. You cannot lock up in a cage an animal and have any hope of rehoming them. It is well known even
humans are given a chance to get out of their cells and other creatures are no different. It is well known that if kept in a cage for too long, animals become unadoptable. I have put forward without support the
idea of using inmate population to walk the animals thereby giving the inmate and the dog both dealing with incarceration issues a chance to socialize. I see this as a win-win issue.
The police department under my authority has agreed to handle both codes enforcement and the animal control responsibility. And I am now bringing it to your attention the fact that as of October
1st, 2025, the code enforcement officer will not be at the city animal shelter except for animal control issues. the shelter we live in leave in the council's capable hands to run as they
see fit. Yours, Mayor Charles. >> Thank you. >> Thank you, sir. >> Yeah, I was talking with um Nikki today. I came by and asked about Waw Wa. It was good to hear that they got their stuff
going, but everybody's calling her about stuff with the animal shelter. She's got so much other stuff that she's doing cuz she's a planning assistant that
you know, you don't need her to get burned out and snowed under one thing and trying to handle something else. So I just told her said, "Look, just email them back and tell them sorry that's not my not my thing." So we got to make sure
that we get somebody in there so they're not calling her. >> Has the job been posted internally? >> Yes, with the new salary it's internal. It's going u external next week. >> Okay. So, nobody interested internally
that you're aware of or are there people that might be? >> I've gotten the first time we posted it with a lower wage, I got nothing. Second time it got posted, I haven't gotten anything yet. >> And you'll go live with it next week,
you say? >> Yes, ma'am. Yeah, we need to do that as soon as we can. >> It'll hit the day. It's after the day. Thank you. Anyone else? Okay, we'll move on. We're going to move on to new business.
Um, and we're going to turn items A, B, and C to our attorney. >> All right. Well, one of the very fun um consequences of our beloved Laura leaving us is that you are about to
witness me present my very first special exception application. Um so bear with me. This is uh resolution 2025-91, a resolution of the city council of the city of Willis, Florida, approving a special exception SE2025-02
for allowing a home occupation for catering at parcel ID 048190050A 741 Northwest 7th Boulevard and providing an effective date. Okay. So, in your agenda package, you have uh what Laura put together at the
application summary, the background and analysis, etc. Little bit of background on this parcel as Laura laid out um in your materials um is that the uh issue that we're having here is
was presented to us through that multiple parcel reszoning future land use map amendment that we did. Remember when we had all those parcels that we were fixing everything and we we were cleaning it all up? This is one parcel where we didn't get any response from
the owner because they went out of town and we had a wrong address from them and the zoning got changed um in a way that they couldn't use without a special exception the property as they've been previously using it. So that's why they've come for the special exception.
Um, so before I get too much further ahead of myself, um, this is a quasi judicial uh, matter. I am an officer of the court, so I do not need to be sworn. Um, if anyone else intends to speak on
this issue, please stand so that you can be sworn >> and just your name. Matt Lutz. >> Okay. Do you swear or affirm that the testimony you give will be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth? >> I do. >> Thank you very much. Um, the next item
of business is to inquire as to whether or not the council has had any exparte communications regarding this matter. >> Seeing lots of you going, were you planning on standing this time?
>> He did stand. Okay. >> Um Okay. So, the items in your agenda are moved on to the record. If anyone has any other items that are not already in the agenda packet, please provide them now to the clerk so that they can
be added to the record. Okay. All right. Now, it's time for staff presentations. I'm going to talk um then I'll turn it over to Mr. Uh so Laura's laid it out pretty well for you all um regarding the analysis.
So essentially the special exception um is the the counter point to a variance. So remember variances run with the land and special exceptions run with the owners. Um so this is a special exception request regarding home
occupation. Um it is an allowable um use um on this zoning with a special exception. Um I'll let Mr. Let's talk to you a little bit about um what exactly his um home occupation entails. Um but essentially it's a a commercial kitchen. They do catering and that kind of thing.
So the um analysis that Laura did um took into account the ingress and egress of the property, parking, um utility screening signs, all of these other kinds of things. Um Latricia, if you'll scroll down to page
12. Yep. So, these are all of the um matters that are put into determination when uh deciding whether or not a special exception is appropriate um as requested. So, all of these are u
factors that were weighed um both by Laura in making the recommendation to the planning and zoning board um as well as by the planning and zoning board at their most recent meeting when they uh recommended approval to you all of this special exception. So that is it for me
for right now and I'll turn it over to Mr. Lutz for his anything you want to add. >> Um I mean I think you've basically covered it. We bought the property. It was commercial until last year. Um we operated out of it until uh COVID hit
and shut down the catering industry. Uh we got other jobs and um we decided that we were going to open the catering business back up now that everything's kind of gone back to normal. Um, and when we went to apply with the state for
our approval, they said your zone residential, which was news to us because we bought commercial property for it to be catering kitchen. Um, and so then we found out we had to go through this process of trying to get a
special exception so that we could start using the kitchen again. Um, we did a big renovation to it when we bought the property, put in commercial hood, you know, commercial gas line, um, all sorts of equipment. Um, so we spent a good
deal of of money to get it to be a commercial kitchen. Um, so yeah, we're just, you know, here trying to get things back up and running. It's mostly just a production kitchen. We don't host any events. We don't have a lot of
trucks coming and going from the property. It's basically a chef, maybe one or two prep support staff. And um other than that, everything is going just on a van out of the property being
taken over to Gainesville UF um assisted living facilities, gyms, and just delivering meals and stuff like that. So, I just I'm here if you guys have any questions about what we're doing. It's
not It's not a big It's not like a big business. We're not going to have a lot of traffic. All right. Um, with that, council, it is time for public comment. If there is any public
comment, >> do we have any comment from from the public? >> Any comment from the council? >> You said it's mostly a commercial kitchen. What's the other part of mostly? >> No, it's that's it's just a commercial
production kitchen. So like we're just we make meals and then transport them out. So, we're not having any other events or customers coming to the property or anything like that. So, it would just be possibly a delivery of
food once in a while, but this is mostly going to be where we're able to actually like go and buy the food and bring it to the property in our van. Not there's not like big box trucks or semi trucks like transporting stuff to the property. So,
it's going to be utilized specifically. There's not going to be anybody living there at any particular time. >> And that's why we missed the certified letter, too. We just don't live there. So, instead of the certified letter going to our mailing address, went to
the property, which then was just turned around and went back to you guys, never heard about it, tried to apply for the use. >> Okay. So, if most of your catering jobs are in Gainesville, >> why in the world would you choose
Wilston to build a catering kitchen? >> That's just out of curiosity. >> My friend owned the property. He bought it commercial. Okay. >> And I was looking for a place to set up a production kitchen so it could be anywhere >> and he was looking to unload the
property. So, I bought it off of him as a commercial property for the sole purpose of doing this. Got it. And then it got >> any other questions to vote? >> Um, do you have anything else that you'd like to add? You'd get a rebuttal period
if you'd like one. >> No, I'm just here to answer any questions. >> Right. Nothing further from me. So, >> I move approval of resolution 2025-91. Have a motion and a second. Have a motion and a second. Going to
move to vote since we discussed. All in favor say I. >> I. All oppose say nay. Motion pass for 4 to zero. >> Yes sir. Thank you. Item B.
This is resolution 2025-93, a resolution of the city council of the city of Willist, Florida, approving the amendment to the state of Florida Department of Transportation public transportation grant agreement for financial project numbers 442505-1-94-01 and 444473-1-94-01
regarding the Williston Regional Airport authorizing appropriate parties to sign any documents required to execute such amendment on behalf of the city of Willist and providing an effective date. I will turn it over to Benton. >> Yes, ma'am. So, um, this one was
something that we found out as a change in policy from the FDOT. We didn't find out until last Wednesday that they're requiring resolutions on every piece of paper that they attach to a grant, which I mean, it's a solid policy, but it's new to us. Um, and we didn't find out till after the deadline was, you know, posted. So we asked to add them on
there. Uh these amendments for the extensions are uh for the terminal building project which is not technically complete because we don't have our generator yet supposed to be delivered in the next two weeks. And then we have the
taxiway I think it's taxiway golf which had an amendment added to it for a exhibit A which is an FDOT document. Um, and both of them need a little bit more time on them than the projects have. >> This is the extension.
>> Yes, ma'am. Then there's a is the next one. >> They're both in one. >> Okay. Do we have another one on there or is it the That later push the next one. >> Both of the So, we have >> we just put the extensions on
>> and the amendment. Okay. Is that in this item? >> That's in this item. >> Okay. So, the amendment is to add to the scope of work for the box hanger project >> or adding some additional concrete. >> So, you say this is going to add a little bit more time.
>> Yes, ma'am. Is that going to cause us to have to forfeit anything or pay extra on >> No, ma'am. That's that's why we're putting the extensions in. >> Right. >> Right. And and FDOT is already blessed off on the extensions. We're just we
have to go through the formality of putting a resolution together to submit into the adjacent program because that's an expectation of theirs. Now >> I make a motion that we approve resolution 2025-93
with one correction that Mr. Cox has listed. That's the president agenda item resolution. Sorry. Have a motion. Second. Have a motion and a second. Any
discussion from the public? Any discussion from the council? If none, move to vote. All those in favor say I. >> I. All those opposed say nay. >> Motion carries 40 to zero.
>> Thank you very much, sir. This is resolution 2025-94, a resolution of the city council of the city of Willist, Florida, approving and entering into an agreement piggyback contract for planning services, making certain findings into court thereof, authorizing the city council president to execute the piggyback agreement,
repealing all or all all resolutions in conflict, and providing an effective date. So, as you all are unfortunately aware, Laura has left us U which means that we need someone to present your special exceptions. Um
the uh contract that Levy County um recently, I believe in May, um entered into with JB Pro is attached in your packet. Um, under Florida law, we are allowed to do what's called piggybacking, which essentially means
that if another government agency procures through competitive procurement a contract, we are allowed to say us two and tag on to that. Um, which is essentially what this is. So, in your packet, you have um the
resolution, you have the RFQ that was put out by Levy County. um for the services. You have the responsive documents that JV Pro provided to Levy County. Um you have the contract that
Levy County entered into with JVP Pro. And then you have our contract agreement which is essentially a one to two page document which says everything that's in that contract with Levy County is exactly the same. All the prices are the same. All the expectations and terms are
the same. The only things that are different are laid out in the agreement. And it's really just things like send public records to our public records individual um service under the contract and notice under the contract should be made to our individuals. Um and it
doesn't change anything else other than that other than references between Lady County and the city of Wilston. Um this is a task bytask contract so they don't do anything that we don't ask them to do and they bill us the same rate they would bill Ley County. um and they have
uh attached in there and I don't have what page that is but in their response to the RFP they have um the fees that they charge for particular services. So it's at the will of the council but I believe this was uh
something that you all were interested in. >> Yes. I the reason why I like to do it is because of the fact is a they know our staff. They've been working with us on our comp plan which they've got to get completed.
Um we have other areas that need to work on or staffing. We don't need to add one more thing where we're looking for voids or a new plan or something. And as
I said, cleaners are hard to come by. So, so >> in favor of it, >> I think they're the perfect choice. >> I agree. My only concern is because this
is an hourly rate and not a rate per service, which is what I thought was going to be presented to us. I just want to make sure that the city doesn't incur any additional costs. Like I think right now our costs direct are passed through the person applying
for a reasonzoning or planning requirement and I'm just not sure that that's laid out here that the state would incur like we feel a developer who's coming in a flat
rate but then we incur a lot of extra hours. We could be out of pocket unknown amount. That's my only concern. Otherwise, they agree with everything. >> Council President respond to that. >> Um, so quite a few months ago, probably
about five and a half months ago, the council saw a document produced by the planning department, Laura, our city planner, and that document was approved and updated as a resolution through ordinance. And what it basically stated was that there was a new fee schedule
that you all adopted. One of the caveats to that is as there's development, as there's permits pulled, as there's projects, what that resolution allowed was that everything became a pass through. So there was an administrative cost which was a flat fee, but then anything that had to be going outside to
the engineer, to a planner, to a surveyor, anything of that nature, it listed each fee directly as a pass through. So I understand your concern about things escalating, but any service that would be needed would be passed through whoever put in for the development.
>> Okay. >> And that and that is um some place where developers can see that I'm assuming as they come. That's that has been made. Thank you. >> Along those same lines, I think we sort of need a gatekeeper so not everybody in
this brother gets to call them. Uh it's just like we don't all need to be calling you even though you've got a contract. We will just drive you crazy if we do. I think that there need to be certain people who can call um JB Pro or
their employees to incur cost and that others need to go through that gatekeeper in order to do it so that we can keep the cost down as much as we can. Right. That should be Nikki I would think would be the
>> or the city manager. >> Yeah. >> Through Nikki. Nikki to request and the city manager to say yes. >> Right. Madame President. >> Yes ma'am. >> When we're discussing saying that certain people can call
which is certainly understandable. We don't want the guy calling about the dog next door. But if it is a pass through, then it would seem to me reasonable that the developer would have the ability to call them and would not have to do any
pass through because it could start costing us money to have our people running it as a third party thing. Something for you to consider. Thank >> I just need clarification on what do you mean by pastor? if you will come back up
and explain. So you have your set permit fees in your ordinance which relate to a rate sheet basically that's why it could be changed by resolution but that rate sheet which council can update you just recently did as I mentioned about four or five months ago and it has listed as a flat fee as
to what certain things are but what the update was is for example advertising which was required for quasa judicial or things of that nature were getting more expensive and instead of changing the rate we listed is whatever the cost is and then sometimes there was an administrative thing tacked on like 5%
or 10%. Sometimes there wasn't. So that the postage uh the advertisement it just becomes a direct cost to the developer or to the person that submits the application. Certain services such as this engineering services, planning
services, survey services were the exact same way. If Mr. McMillan isn't required to survey something for a consideration then that cost that exact cost goes directly to the developer whereas before it was a flat rate sometimes we lost money most of the time we lost money so
that's what I was referring to as >> okay and I think I remember her saying that when she was here speaking >> so could we structure it that and maybe this would be a question for Nikki but could we structure it I don't think we
should change it. Go ahead. >> Uh no, just the part that you you mentioned about a pass through could we structure it internally so that like at a certain point like once the permitting is filed then then or the request I guess not but the request is filed but
then it could be then at that point they get their put directly into the JB Pro but prior to that or I'm not sure. Miss Bishop right now they're not
talking directly to the applicant are they aren't >> I know but I mean our employees would talk to them not JB Pro >> right >> yeah I I think it would go through our people I don't think the applicant would actually be calling JB Pro
>> I don't think so either because I don't think that's what we're doing now before they would call our staff not the person who's actually doing the review. >> Yeah, that's right. I think >> and I think that's why she said that she
prefer her state because she knew the information >> and if Dicki had questions, she would contact J. >> Any further discussion? I make motion we approve resolution 2025-94. Second.
>> Any discussion from the public? >> If none, we'll move to vote. All those in favor say I. >> I. >> I. >> All. >> All those that oppose say nay. Motion passes 4.
So, next on our agenda is going to be item D, discussion with possible action certification audit HR director Kim Troy. >> Uh, which one would we like to discuss first? certification audit or
back pay. >> Your choice. >> Let's go with the back pay first. >> So, like I stated uh earlier that the ones with the my handwriting on it that's got Kurt and Cody's name. This is the um
Mike Miller and I sat down and we figured out the uh hourly pay based on the certifications and raises. And then right behind that is Cody's uh spreadsheet. Um and then the smaller print is
what uh the numbers that I came up with. Um, the ones that I came up with, it was a little difficult to understand what was pulled from Edmonds, uh, because there were some repeats in there. So, I had to
kind of figure that one out. Um, Kurts was a lot longer, but a lot easier to figure out. His was more straightforward. Um, so and they're all relatively there's a basically um a low, a high, and then Steven's numbers fit right in the
middle. >> And you said that Steven's numbers were soft. He has not done a final calculation. This is just his first run through the numbers. >> Yes, ma'am. That's what I was told in the email that it was just soft numbers.
>> They were supposed to be ready today final. >> Yes. >> But because of budgets and I understand that stuff with Stephen a little hard to get. So,
um, I'm okay. Give her two weeks to come back with it. You know, he's with the final answer. >> Stephen, you give Stephen two weeks to come to give him the final answer. >> If you got to call every day to get him
on the phone, call get him on the phone. Whichever you got to do. So I'll give you two more weeks. The other option that I think we could do in an effort to get
the employees who you know they have been owed this back pay for significant amount of time is to do possibly an installment that would be a flat rate today that and again I don't know about payroll how all this works but to do an
installment the difference once we get the numbers from Stephen paid if a that's appropriate and that that means something to them. >> So, I think we're going to have to find out um where where they want to meet in the middle
because their amount is higher, her amount is lower, and Steven's is somewhere. >> Steven will come back with a definitive this is this is Steven just hasn't gotten the exact He will come back with the This is the exact amount.
>> No, he's off the computer. He's off the payroll computer >> and we have to go >> we have to go with his numbers >> with his numbers. >> I just hate to wait another two weeks. >> That's I agree. >> And we have we haven't changed their rate of pay.
That's driving me crazy. We know we owe it to them. We know their rate of pay is not right. And we haven't changed it still. Every payroll that goes by, we owe them more money. I just don't know why we haven't changed
that at the very least. >> So what is their current pay rate supposed to be? >> Who even knows? We did know. Kim Kim might know. >> You're supposed to be tenatively 57. >> I have it if you like. It's from the
budget. It's the staffing plan. >> It's correct. He did correct it in the budget. You're right. >> So I have that if you'd like it. And have the appropriate VAS been filed and submitted? >> We can't submit those until we get approved because it's including the back
pay. >> So that's just hanging on, >> but we could have changed their rate of pay so that it was going forward and know that the back pay was still forthcoming, >> right? The PA would be >> I think
>> me either. I mean, so much filed with current. >> If we submit that to Lori, she's going to back pay them immediately. >> Their current hourly rate will >> Yes, ma'am. >> That's the way it's been done. When I searched and searched through emails
looking for certification audits and everything else, it is back paid to the date of the certification. So if I submit those today, which I can, it's without your we don't have a resolution to submit those and she will pay it out.
I agree with something that Miss Martin said is um breaking it down, breaking over period of time, look at other options that they could be able to take that instead of just like one lump sum. But that's going
to have to be meeting with them >> what they would like >> at least to get some I mean my logic is to at least get some of the pay that they are owed in their pockets. >> Yeah. And then because we don't have a final number from Mr. Bloom once he
gives us that final number then the difference can be you know can be added to again I don't know whether it gets attached to to a paycheck or whether it's a separate check but however that works it'll all go through payroll so basically if we choose to do half and
half right now so if we want to do half I have to figure out the the halfway point so one of them's got I think eights so that would be fourerts we Mike and I can create uh well the PFS are already done. Mike and I can get those submitted. They'll get back paid to the
earliest date and then we can wait on the other four until we get the resolution. But um I is there anything we can get any way documented so I can send this forward to Lori and Steven so they know that cuz it requires
signatures if we over a certain amount. >> So here's I have a question. So, you're saying they're going to be back, it's going to be backdated from the time of their first sir, but we know if they've got their first cir dollar
raised, it would have been a certain amount plus their overtime. And then when they got the next, it'll be that dollar on top. That's why >> when you guys did it, you did it that way so that it would flow
appropriately. That's what we're So Mike and I sat down and figured it out trying to figure out a way to combat this uh as easy as possible so there'd be no errors. And we came up with two options. One is we submit one entire PAF to get them
currently all the way up to date or we submit a PAF for each certificate. Um which way did we choose? Because I gave you both options. Do you know which way you chose to go? Yeah, it's pretty much dependent. We're
waiting on something from you because it's out of the amount's too high for us to even submit without asking. >> I do know one thing. If we pay them all at one time, they're going it's going to get half of it's going to be eaten in taxes.
Um, so I don't know. They may prefer it in four increments. I'm looking at them over here. >> Maybe they'll give us some hint. I I think if you don't do it by the PAF and you just pay them from the first one,
money is going to get lost that they should have gotten because of overtime, because of, you know, everything that falls that comes into play every year. >> But Mr. Bloom has all that math. That's what we're saying. Like he's it's all in here calculated. So he'll get that very
exact number with all of that. >> Each individual paycheck is in here. regular over and then it shows it. >> Do you have >> you guys have any comment
>> or preference? Just want your money, right? uh for the most part. But for me, I was gonna maybe possibly put like half of it in my 457 retirement that I have. >> In the retirement plan, is that what you said?
>> Yeah. I don't know that we can designate it just for one person because all the funds I believe are cogn >> that's my personal 15. >> Oh my personal >> not the pension plan but special retirement. So I guess my question is would you
>> after you um would you be >> comfortable with a first installment followed by a second installment with the exact number getting determined between in the next two weeks >> Cody
that's >> versus waiting to get any of it until we have the final number. I'm not I'm not so speak now forever. [Music] >> So to that question, that would be Stephen question or her payroll
question. I'm not 100% sure how we would, but it certainly not a a legal issue if you are decide that you want to do that. It's just two individuals. So you could be specific with each of them. >> I thought you had >> Oh, you were looking at me so I wanted
to respond. But I don't have a question. Can we make can I or one of us make a motion that we approve up to a certain amount to be paid without authorization that whatever mass gets
mass and whenever the next pay period payroll is >> yeah absolutely I would I would just make sure that your motion includes by whatever methodology that happens I'm not sure
>> do y'all currently have an IRA or some kind of a tax exempt >> fund, a 401k or something. You do. Okay. So, that would be pre-tax for them. That would help him a little bit.
>> Would be a question for Stephen. >> What amount? >> It's a question for Steen, but also have to make sure they wanted a 401k or an IRA. pretapprove up to $10,000 per employee to be
um given not given to them after they earned it to be paid to them um in the next pay period and then the remainder get paid Do we have a roundabout? >> This one is
[Music] a lot. >> So Cody's uh soft numbers from Stephen is 11,67.50. 50 and then per Kurt the soft numbers is $23,52625.
$10,000 going to give us enough insure. >> And if they want it in a tax exempt pre-tax fund. They need to get it to us real quick. Let Steph look at it. >> I make >> Are you guys okay with that?
>> As soon as Stephen gets >> your next payroll just got submitted today. >> So next pay period this one or the next? >> No payroll for this that would be paid this week got submitted to yes ma'am. So it's passed. So it'll be two weeks till the next one.
>> So not this day period. Yes, ma'am. If you'll come to the and state your name and where you from regarding the issue at hand, but I'm Shannon Church, 590 Northwest, um fourth place. Um, so my only question regarding
the first aotment for for our guys over here is isn't it um true that anything up to or $10,000 or more would have to be taxed even more with income tax? >> We'll do 999. >> Y'all are amazing. Thank you.
>> We'll make it work because you're right. It has to be recorded when it's 10,000 or more. I make a motion that we approve uh a initial installment of $5,000 for Kodi
Camp and for $10,000 for Kirk Williams $1,999 sorry $9,000 $999 for Kirk Williams um to be paid to them
>> in the next pay period. the first installment with the following installment being the difference between the first installment and the exact numbers that Mr. Bloom, Mr. Steven Bloom returns to us for what they are owed.
>> The only thing that you mentioned that wasn't in the motion is the ability for them to request it be placed specifically into >> Yeah. a pretext. a >> and that both employees can request that their first installment be placed in a
preax fund >> so long as Stephen says that >> so long as it's meets the approval of our financial director. >> Did you get all that Mr. Fisher? >> I'll second. >> Okay, that was a long motion. So, we have
>> I won't. So, so we have a motion and a second. Any further discussion? on the second one. Second one9. [Music] >> Yeah, I'll take the first one. Yeah.
>> I think the motion allows you to to choose. So if you want to, you can. You don't have to. >> Okay. Any other discussion >> in the same department? There are others with search that haven't been paid for. They're kind of waiting alone. They've
been waiting a long time. Are others in the same department going to >> that's next on this agenda item? >> It's okay. I was trying to pitch but that's good.
>> All right. Any other discussion? Seeing none, I move to vote. All those in favor say I. >> I. >> I. All those opposed say nay. >> Motion passes 4 to zero.
Right. Next thing on the agenda, >> Madam President, >> was there anything else? >> She has to >> She has to do the audit. >> Okay. Certification >> certification. >> It should It's Is it in the packets? It's also two pages.
>> Three. >> Anybody know what page? What page is that? Patricia 82. That's not ahead. >> So, this is what is currently in their files that I know of. Um, and what I
have found through emails and uh this was an extensive audit. I had to search every email looking for PAFS, looking for certifications and I got with uh public works Christy to uh compare training files. Um and this is the data
that I gather. Uh I have been informed there are some that are not on here that people have, but I don't have copies of them. So, um but this is what I do have copies of. It has the uh it's listed by the employee
name, what certification license they have, the date of the certification or license, um the signed off name is who signed off on the PAF, uh the last actual signature that's on the PAF, and then the date of the last signature, the
date it was submitted to Infomark, and then whether the pay was updated in Edmonds. Um some of these I had to follow a paper trail uh that was in there and look in Edmonds and it was just an extensive extensive audit and
this is um what I have come up with. It looks like almost everybody got paid. I mean I see a couple that don't have anything there. So, I did ask questions about some of these with uh department heads and some
of the ones that did not get paid. Um, this is literally what is in their file. Uh, I'm not sure which ones were certifications. I learned a lot doing this. Um, but some of the ones that did get paid, they they uh those are
licenses and stuff. And then some of the ones that there were certifications in there for uh the department head, director, however you want to look, um stated that pretty much some of them, I'm not speaking for all
of them. For example, uh Barney's pump was attended by employees, but it is the lift station certification and only is applicable to the lift station employees. Um, and then the F.ERT pay was up to the department head or
director. >> So if that was the case, why were they allowed to take that? >> I can't answer that. That was before my time. I'm sorry. >> So if they took the course, courses have to be authorized prior to prior to them taking it. Correct.
>> Yes. >> Anybody um Donald or Mr. Bishop? So on the I can tell you on the education form it is there is a block whether the dollar is applicable to the class that we send them to >> but I don't I just learned of this two
weeks ago. Um and a lot of their files do not have this education form in there. >> So we're sending them to classes and we're paying for them to go to class and yet they're not getting any money for it. That doesn't make a whole lot of
sense. Some of it's just for educational purposes and some of it's for primary functions of their job. Yes, ma'am. >> It's according to the CBA. So the CBA does require a threshold of a certain percentage of their job be entailed within the license or the cert. There
are some classes that you cross train. So for example, you have Barney's pump. The reason why electric and some of the others win is because they can help troubleshoot in those areas, but they're not the primary on it. That's going to be your lift station text. The FDOT, your people who got your raise were the
peoples that actually have to take the civil uh liability for DOT, but we sent the staff so they know how to properly set up a DOT zone that's approved and can be inspected by a DOT DOT official. So, it's still part of their job. But let's say I send two staff members to go
set up DOT for the leak in front of Babcocks and DOT comes, examines it, examines the plans, it meets compliance. Let's say it doesn't meet compliance. It's not the ones that set it up. It's the ones supervisor or this the crew leader or the field supervisor, whoever it may be that takes the liability.
They're the ones that sign off on the plans. Typically, things of that nature. What you just dealt with electric is because of things that they take criminal or civil liability for. people that are in the gas, they take criminal and civil liability for it. So, it has to do with responsibility and who's accountable.
But it doesn't mean that you don't have staff that's going to be working around that substance or that chemical or that utility that doesn't have to have the training to not endanger somebody else that they're working around. So, it just depends. I mean, we could go through each and every single one. That's why
the CBA dictates that it's a department head's discretion and that it has to do with a contingency of how much of their job it entails. Thank you for that explanation. >> Hi. >> Yes, ma'am. Go ahead.
>> I I guess I hear what you're saying, Mr. Barbara, and my only concern is that the way that it currently has been structured has caused a lot of confusion among staff and obviously we've dedicated a lot of time and energy um to getting this sorted out. So, personally,
I would prefer for it to be a little bit more clearly defined. Um, if not in the CDA, then certainly in our employee policy. And I think that that was, you know, that you guys, I read all of the certifications that everybody sent back
that their employees could get, which was great and very informative. But I guess, and again, like I don't get certified, so it doesn't affect me as an employee, but it certainly infects all the employees. Having what you guys sent
back to us be put in a format that basically says these and and Mr. Barbara, you yours did break it down very carefully. Um, these are absolutely required and mandated and you know and and then also I think it'd be very helpful for the council certainly from
my understanding of how this all works and for the other employees to understand if there is redundancy where does the redundancy occur? How many employees do we need to have to create that redundancy? Are they getting paid the extra dollar per hour if they're a redundant employee or are they not
because they're not responsible, you know, from if nothing else, but to make sure that the employees have a good understanding of what pay they can get and what is fair. Um, we have a lot of different departments in play and it's be obvious
that we need to keep things fair from department to department and the only way we can do that is with really black and white guidelines >> and also maybe okay just a moment and also maybe when you write the um job
description you also place in there that these are the educational items that will be completed while employed. Um, and that way you don't necessarily have
to have to say that it's discretionary. We already know this, this, and this goes into your education as long as you're employee in order for us to make sure that we run a well operated um,
unit. But yeah, so also with that then have those things that are certified that have to be done based on um rules and regulations and give them
those certifications. So it needs to be clearcut like Miss Miss Martin is saying >> and whether that's done in the in the job description going forward and that's something that we address is we we clean up our job descriptions and we list that very clearly and we state you know I mean I'm all for everybody getting as
much education as possible but I think that there could be potential for confusion if somebody thinks well if I just you know if I get all these things I'm going to get a dollar raise for each of these certifications when in fact maybe only four or five of them would generate a dollar raise per hour for that particular position.
and then if they move to another position obviously that would open up a lot more opportunity for them. Um so I guess that's my request and >> it's called continuing education. So if you're doing continuing education that's not something that has to be monetarily
given Mr. Barbara I mean Mr. Bishop. [Music] So just to be clear, I am bishop, but um I hear you and we'll take that in advisement and see what we can do. I
promise. With all that being said, when the workers want to take a class, they come to us, we give approval of said class, we talk about pay, non-pay, there's a sheet they fill out. On that sheet, it talks about the increasement of pay, yes or no. From there, it goes
to Sue and HR to get approved. Once it's approved, then we send them to class. Actually, I think through HR in there by accident, but definitely go to Miss Sue. She's she's the final signature. So, if you want to go to a class that is beneficial, but it's not necessarily worthy of a raise. I hate to say it that way, right? But it will benefit
everybody if they want to take the class knowing that get knowing that that will not get a raise. They sign a piece of paper saying yes or no. So, everybody's aware of what they're going to get or not going to get prior to it going to Miss Sue. >> So, she has all the information sitting in front of her. Kind of like a story, if you will. We also have need to be
aware of what we're going to pay for because if they just want to go to a class, go to a class, the city shouldn't be paying for it. >> Yes, ma'am. I see what I'm saying. So, okay. >> Thank you. >> So, if there are any other I just ask Miss Kim if she could possibly make
another sheet that has only the people that we haven't paid. >> I mean, all these that have >> Yes, ma'am. I can create a filter on this and I can I can do that for you. I mean, there's only one that I see and Amos may know others. I only see Mr.
Earl Brown and I think it's probably a typo. It It says the it's got all the dates and signatures, but the the page and the date that it was sent to Infamark, but it has no yes in the block. So, he may have actually been
paid for that. It's a wastewater collection class C and he does work in that area. Yes, that's probably >> and he probably just not got a yes in that block. >> It would be my guess anyway because all the other dates are there appropriately
for the signatures. >> Um, and there are a couple of new ones maybe that haven't been picked up yet, but if there were others missing, they're not on here. >> Oh, what do you mean?
I mean that if there were other people that we owe back money to. >> This is all the current active employees when I uh did this. Um some of the ones that came with certificates prior are uh like Christy Lewis for example. Her she
came with all these certifications and that was included in her um her her initial her initial. So she's not on here because we didn't pay for any of the certifications that she came with. Christy Lewis, >> uh, code enforcement, animal control.
>> Oh, hi. >> Uh, I do have an employee asking, is Deon Hinden on there? >> Say that again. >> Devin, I believe his last name is Hendenling. >> Yeah, he's not on here, I don't think.
I don't see him on here at all. I do remember doing his. I don't know what happened with this, but I remember doing his cuz uh he had came to me about a certification and I remember pulling it up. I'm not sure why it's on not on here. My apologies. >> Okay. So, I would just say if any of the
employees know of something that they believe they haven't been paid for it, please let Kim know so she can look it up. >> And we know Devon is one of them. >> You have something? >> I do. I just want to I just want to point out something that not to be
resolved tonight, but but to um Meredith's point earlier, um the way that you all have just like a 30,000 foot view, your CVA and HR policy set up is that your HR policy is your
default unless your CBA says them. Generally speaking, that's how it works. So, your CBA doesn't speak to continuing education. Your CBA speaks to wages. And wages is the section where it talks
about certificates. It's nearly identical language in both. So just for your benefit, I'm going to bore you by by reading it because I can understand how it would be confusing and something to consider would be a change
to one or both of these policies to address it. So when an employee receives, this is from your CBA, when an employee receives a job related license and or certification within the employees classification as pre-approved and determined by the department head, the employees hourly rate shall be
increased by $1 per hour per license or certificate obtained. Okay, that's from your CPA. Your HR manual says management approval. To provide to apply for benefits under the continuing education program, the employee must submit a request for assistance in
writing to his or her department head in sufficient time to allow for the approval process blah blah blah blah blah. Essentially, what it then says is the department head will determine if coursework is applicable to the employees current position or career position. the employee can reasonably expected to occupy. If the employees
application receives a favorable decision by the department head, he or she must request final approval from the city manager. So, you may be having individuals to Jonathan's earlier point who are coming in and they're applying. I'd like this continuing education and
we're not delineating properly because it's going through the same people, same process essentially. It's not being determined. Is this a certificate that's going to get you a dollar an hour as determined by your department head or is this a continuing education, something
that's just informing you of updates in your field? And we expect you to have this information, but it's not going to result in a dollar raise. So, that just sort of a a long-term issue to maybe consider. could be fixed by policy,
could be fixed by updating our forms, making sure it's clear one way or the other. Um, but just something for you all to to chew on there. >> Thanks. Anyone else have any questions or comments?
>> Yeah. Hi again, Shannon Church, 590 Northwest, fourth place. Uh, so my question is involving administration when it comes to situations like this and something else I'm going to address at the end.
Um, do we have an online system that we use to input this information such such as certain individual certifications, certain levels? Um, so where it automatically documents and keeps track of everything as far as like what all certifications they have, what they
need, time frames, anything like that to make this process just a little easier versus what it appears to be like just going through emails and papers. I'm not sure if that's something you guys can answer, but that's something that, you know, far as outsiders looking in,
>> right? We'll let Miss Kim answer that. >> So, you're talking about a HRIS system, a human resource integrated system. We don't have that here. We have admins. It has an HR portal and it's very very limited. Uh, it's more of a finance portal. >> Okay. So, it's just like you said, very
limited. We're only able to utilize a small portion. Is that due to funding as far as availability for the full program? >> That is the full program then. >> Oh, okay. Okay. That is a lot. Thank you. >> Also too, we had how many HR people in
the last five years in the last year. So stuff is falling >> through the cracks or this one's got a different idea on doing it and so forth and it just all >> but that is >> jumble
a lot of our problem there. >> Yeah. >> Yes. >> It sounds like um counselor in our department. Why are we getting some kind of special dilapitated
treatment? you need go to these courses and you pass the course, you get a dollar. Now you got to pass the course and the written test to get your money. I don't understand. Uh I I don't understand if I go and cl my 70 pole.
They say I passed the test. Shouldn't I not get that dollar from that same certificate? Because they're separate certificates. So should I not get my pay? Why should I get held out? Because, oh, this other certificate I haven't done yet. So, when I complete that, I
should get a dollar for that, too. So, why I got to do two things to get money instead of each individual thing? Do other department do the same thing? That's my question. I would like somebody in the city to come explain that.
>> You can. So, thank you, Amos, for your question. That's what I'm asking for is that in in the job either in the job description or in the city policy um handbook that the definitions of each
certification, the number of hours, whether they come with a dollar raise or not, is very clearly defined going forward. So that you guys will in fact know that and that will no longer be a question of does this particular you know is it one piece of this that gets
me a dollar but then you know if I do it into segments or if it's two um what's the word that I'm looking for modules um you know does each one qualify for a dollar raise or do you have to complete all the modules and that's what we're asking for we are asking for exactly
what you're asking for which is a very clear definitive answer of each certification and the accompanying raise for each department. >> My issue is the certifications.
So now we're getting chest eyes for doing this and not getting paid. So we got to wait now. We change the rules in order to get paid for this education or this training we've
got. Well, I think if if you if you have a certification that was a pro, you know, was part of a requirement for your position, then yes, you should have been paid for that, which I think we've addressed tonight with Kurt Cody, and we are addressing with any employees that
that feel that they have been certified that that they should come to Kim and present that information. and she will give us an updated form or an updated um audit that lists all those employees and and your supervisors will sort that out
um with Kim for you and then going forward because we can't go back and change the way things were done in the past. Unfortunately, all we can do is set it up to be successful going forward and to be more clear so that we don't have this issue going forward. And that's what we're trying to do. >> I apologize, council, if y'all didn't
get information. I just got the information I just got is I got to do one thing then do another thing and then I get paid. >> Yeah. >> I got to do this thing then that thing then I get paid for it. I don't understand if if I'm passing these tests
I should get my pay as soon as I get certified to pass these tests. That's what I'm but I'm getting told by five minutes ago that I got to pass this test and then pass this test and then I get a $2 something like that. I I don't I don't understand that.
>> That's exactly what we did with Cody and Kurt. If you look at Amos' specifically, he took the lineman apprentice uh unit one before he came to work here and he completed the apprentice fundamentals for lab one
in May and he got his dollar for that. He didn't get it for the first one because he did it before he got here. Okay. But then if you look and if I remember this, he took someone's place. Yeah. And that's how he kind of got these out of order. Uh and Jonathan can
speak to it. He did the lineman apprentice lab one fundamentals and then he did the lineman apprentice lab two and the line lab three. He did all of those but hadn't finished the fundamentals. Is that right? So and
that's what he's saying. He's done three of them. that there's another part to them and they're saying that once he finishes the other part then he gets both dollars which is exactly what we've done with curtain
finish the whole thing. I just really I mean I don't know how the rest of council feels but I really feel that the supervisors need to be better about keeping this sorted because the amount of confusion and hard feelings that it is creating is is really tragic and it
is basically when you're a supervisor in my opinion it's your job to do the paperwork keep paperwork straight so that the employees don't have confusion about this that they're not taking things out of order and we we spent so much time on this and Um, it could have
been solved. >> One reason they took it out of order because one employee >> left >> and the class had been paid for already. So rather than lose the money, they sent Amos. That's not his fault. >> I No, I know it's not Amos' fault. But I know that there just needs to be
documentation that like you can go take this, but until the rest are done, like there's got to be better documentation. We shouldn't be having to deal with this over and over and over again. >> Absolutely. That class three was so hard because I was not prepared for it. And
it took everything I had to pass that. But yet I still trying to help the city, not help myself cuz I really didn't want to go there. I was like, "Hey man, we need you to." And I did. I like it was real hard. But I I don't
pay for that. Jonathan, >> if you don't if you'll indulge me, can we um set up a meeting with him in my office tomorrow, discuss this in private? >> Yes. >> Well, please doesn't need to be discussed here tonight.
>> Okay. And also want to add that um with the TVPBA uh issue at hand, Jonathan and I have got a hold of Caleb at TVPBA and we are going to sit down and create an SOP for TVPPA
um on you know moving forward with this program um based on what TVPA recommends how it's utilized what steps have to be taken that way we I mean liability
is the key word here. You know, if we push it to where it goes in order the way it was designed to do, then uh we're kind of checking that box. But this is for moving forward that Jonathan and I came up with this last
week, I think, to set this program itself into an SOP. >> Correct. So, it has nothing to do with whatever's already happened. It's from this point on forward. Yes, that's right. >> Just to answer some of the comments that were made.
>> They're going to address those, but she's done going forward as that. >> So, just ask answer some of the comments that were made. So, first of all, I mean, if the city clerk loses something, she comes to find me because I normally have the record. So, I I have good records. Okay. Uh secondly, as was
mentioned, in seven years, we've had 11 HRs. When HRs have come in and other city managers have come in and now we're on our fourth one, they have told staff, including your supervisors and your department heads, you are not allowed to keep records on that employee for this,
this, or that. So to be told that we should have records of all the training, we should have records of all this and all that. We were told actually that they actually went back there and the last city manager and three HRs ago and literally took all of our files out of our computers and out of our file
cabinets and took them over there and nobody knows what happened to them. So to be told that we don't keep good records and we don't manage that, that's not the case. And I want to point out one positive thing here because I know we focusing on the negative. There was
no training here prior to 2021. Mr. Mr. Bishop, myself, Mr. Miller, wherever he went, we're the only reason why there is anything in utilities for any kind of training. There was no classes, there was no continuing education, there were no certifications,
there were no people with licenses. So from a positive perspective, this is a good problem to have that we have for the first time in this city employees who are actually qualified to do their jobs in a safe manner. So, I'm not trying to be emotional, but a lot of
things are said about, well, this is your fault or this is his fault or this is that's not the case. And I'll take a lot of things, but I'm not going to stand here and be told that I don't keep good records. Um, because if I don't have the physical copy of it, I can almost tell you the date in my head. So,
I just, you know, thank you. >> I I appreciate what you said very much and I do understand that it is an HR issue. I also know that that there are employees that have asked supervisors to put in PAS and they did
not get done. And HR have asked for PAS and they did not get done. And I'm not specifying any particular person in this situation, but I'm just saying that I would really like not have to address this again in the future ever. >> I will say that there were a lot that
got done that never got sent in and that was HR's issue, not the department head. No, I it's across the board. >> So, because the PAFs, not you, other people, not one of those other 11 that we have before you because I've seen them. I mean, the Cody and Kurt have
perfect records. Most of them are hanging on the wall in the back. That's where you can find them. They're hanging on the wall. If you walk in the back hallway, you'll see all their searchs. All everybody's, not just theirs, but everybody's on the wall. Um, but the fact that
they have to go and get them and find them is ridiculous. Yeah, it should all be in their folder. And you found you are the one who found a separate folder sitting aside with all the PAFs, the personnel action forms in it that had
not been sent to imple. And you're the one who verified they had not been sent. That is a step in the right direction. Before we had no idea they hadn't been sent. We just knew these guys said we owed them money. And the fact that they started bringing us copies of everything that they had because their records,
Cody's records are immaculate. They're they're wonderful. And Kurts are right up there. Cody compliments his wife when you say his are great. He said it's not me, it's my wife. Well, whoever it is, he's got everything. Um, and that's why his papers are all really good here and
probably pretty much right on the money. But Kim, you're the one who found all that for us. You're the one who found the sheets that were there that had been signed by everybody that needed to be. They were signed by city managers. They were signed by their department head. They were signed by their supervisor,
but they never got sent to Walmart. Don't ask me why. And that's why they didn't get their money. So basically where we are is we've had issues happen, things happen and now that we found
issues that we are working diligently to complete them and nobody's at fault for anything just from today just move forward and get it done and taken care of and make a better structure so that it doesn't happen again.
>> Yes, ma'am. I'm working on that, but I am a oneperson show. So, >> I do what I can, >> but you got some supervisors that can help you along the way. So, it's it's not we're not doing this by ourselves. And I think that's where a lot of
problems sometimes come in. People think that they're on their own doing things when you have to work as a team to get things done. >> So, my thing would be got two weeks to get them all together. Put a do not disturb sign on your door. Yeah, two weeks to get them all
straightened out. >> Now, bring us a list that has the people who haven't been paid yet. >> Yes, ma'am. >> For example, those I just talked about with Amus. >> Yes, ma'am. >> And and Mr. Who else did I see down there? Mr. Brown, Earl Brown, and possibly Mr.
Curry. Mr. Curry's got one there. I don't I know Mr. Curry's not currently in the wastewater area, but he probably was when he got it because it was in 24. He's just recently been moved this recent road, so he probably needed that dollar. >> So, we look forward to hearing from you.
So, thank you. Um, any other questions? You didn't have to do anything on that. That was just purely discussion. All right. So, we're going to move forward. Um, so discussion with possible actions, pay increase and term limits for city council and mayor, council president,
darkness. Um, so I had Miss Latricia print you off guys off an email that I sent to her. Um, just with some information. I don't know. Miss Patricia, do you want to put it up? So
maybe they can see it as well. >> Oh, okay. Never mind. All right. So um I would like to have a discussion on increasing our terms from 2 years to four years.
Maximum consecutive terms of three for a total of 12 years with an exception if there is no other candidate that wants to take the seat. Then if that person wants to remain they can remain. consideration in increasing our base pay
anywhere from $100 to $200 per year times four years for the mayor and the council. President of course is going to be additional $100 base pay which is what it currently is now. Vice president $50 above the base pay. So if we look at
it and we say council starts at currently we're at $400 and if we get a raise every year until the first year here year we would increase to 6,000 as opposed I think right now
we're like four 4,000 a year. I have time to calculate that. I did that in this in 15 minutes. 48. So, currently council's pay for a year is $4,800. If we increase $500 next year,
it'll be $6,000. $100 the next year, $7,200. $100 next year, $8,400. And $100 the last year. Fourth year would be 9,600. of course adding $100 on top of the
president and $50 on top of the vice president. So the first year would be 7200 for the president, 8,400 for the second year, 9,600 for the third year and 1,800 for the fourth year. And then the vice
president would be 6000. It can't go down. >> What can't go down,00 >> if you're going to add >> 12 by 100. >> Oh yeah. >> Correct. Correct. Correct. Correct. So type And the next one number is wrong
>> will be 10,000. >> So you know what I'm saying but thanks. Yes, those are typos. I missed the zero. So the vice president will be 6600 um the first year, second year 7,800 um third year 8,400 and um the fourth
year be 10,000. that would increase um us to a more favorable hopefully so that people may want to come and sit on the council not specifically for the money but it
actually will um look at other things. So say like me and I think most of us have jobs but when I work when we have meetings that we have to go to conferences and things like that we get mileage we're supposed to get predomin but if we use the city's card
then there is no pred so I have to use my my al my annual leave time for that so this would also help compensate for time that people have to take off to actually go to these functions in order
to learn how to be a council member and do what's best for the city. Um, I also am proposing that we alternate the presidency and vice presidency amongst council so that say in next year we
decide to do four years and Miss Deborah and Meredith come back. Well, two years Miss Miss Meredith will do be a the president and two years Miss Jones will be the vice president. Then it was swamp. That way everybody kind of gets
the experience of sitting at the dis and running things and knowing how things truly work instead of just sitting on the sides. Um so those are my thoughts and suggestions we can discuss.
>> Well, as far as the alternating goes. It will depend on where like for instance I'll say me and Miss Deborah we're here in town and there was a lot
of times a lot of times last year of you know getting a phone call going hey what time you get off work we need some stuff signed or where can we come meet you we we have some stuff signed. Um,
so that's easier where like you're you're in Lake City, >> not as available, >> right? Yeah. >> She might not be as available. So electing a president or keep it for two terms. Um,
>> well, it wouldn't be mandatory. I mean, they could elect to say, you know, because of my job, you know, I'm not willing to take that position and then we can elect somebody. But I think we still should give everybody an opportunity to sit at the seat to sit at that seat. That way they know the ins
and out of what's going on related to the position be better. >> So that's just my thought. >> I can >> it doesn't it it doesn't have to be it was just a just a suggestion. Um but that would eliminate us from having to
vote for president every year. Yeah, that's about like having ter I mean being coming in and being here for two years just as you start to get the feel and know what you're doing, you have to go and run and leave. So it
gives that person that opportunity to really develop in the position. >> Go ahead. Number one, I'm not want to add any money to our budget at all. >> Uh even incrementally like you've done here. Uh, number two, you can't do any
of this without a referendum for people to vote on. >> Well, yeah, I know that >> because it's in the charter. >> I know, but you haven't mentioned it, so I thought I would. >> It's a discussion. So, you need to have a discussion before you go any further to all that other stuff. I know it has to be voted on by the public, the
people, but we also have to have discussion before we decide to do something like that. We have a law. >> Spread this out there that instead of raising the salary which um that we instead offer some compensation for
people who do go and get the furthering education so that the council members who do actually go and dedicate that time to furthering their education get paid for it. And those of us who are not able to go as much as we would like to maybe tough luck and we don't get we
don't get extra money for staying at home. I mean again it's not for want. It's just sometimes for lack of ability to do that. But I don't think that >> I know I can't go to as many of the educational opportunities as some of the other council members can. I don't feel
that I should be compensated because I'm not going >> and I do know that all of our expenses when we go our expenses are paid. >> But it's different than taking having >> it's my job. I'm I'm a part-time job. I'm retired. I have a part-time job just
because I like to have something to do to get up when I get up in the morning. I like to have something to do. And I can tell you I I don't get anything. >> Yeah. >> I don't have vacation days. >> So yeah, when I don't work, I don't get anything. And you know, we for years I've said I would do this job for
nothing. I don't care if you pay me or you don't pay me. I do this for the love of doing it. Not because I want to get paid. And I'm not about >> well I don't I don't think it's because you want to get paid but I mean if you think about it and you may not be here
always you know as the mayor said if you look at the money sometimes you know if you had paid a little bit more for people's time then maybe we'll have more people that come and want to help make this city better. And you could never
pay for the time we spend up here. And you know that you know that too. Hours and hours. >> But what I'm saying is people don't know that >> buy something then maybe that will be something for somebody else to come and say well you know I know it's not a lot and I do want to make a difference but
it does help. >> And we just >> I mean we just increased it two or three years ago. >> I mean it was $200 and we increased it to $400. And I'm just saying >> I would say I >> I mean we sit we're we're we're sitting up here and we're increasing everything
else. >> Well, I don't think you have to do this. >> That's the way I feel about it. >> I I agree with our finesse that that to to a certain extent because let's say you have somebody who's has to pay for a babysitter or something. You know, we all have our different expenses. I'm just using this as an example. Somebody
has to pay for a babysitter in order for them to be able to leave and and go to a conference or leave and go to some sort of educational opportunity that in some way, shape, or form at least being able to have some compensation so that
they're not losing money doing that. They might not be making money, but they're at least not losing money. I'm not opposed to that. Um I I don't think it should come in the salary. >> I don't think the taxpayers should pay for that kind of thing. But how are we going to get people who
maybe are younger, who have kids with school schedules and things like that, you know, that are not, you know, I'm in the position, I own my own business, so I can pay somebody to cover for me if I need to. It still comes out of my pocket, but I am in control of that. Other council members, you know, they
have jobs, they cannot take the time off. Like one of those jobs, they just can't take the time off. So, how do we get more diversity, different socioeconomic groups up here representing the community if it's all volunteer? I mean, not that it's all volunteer. We can pay a small amount, but it's pretty volunteer.
>> I do it for the love of the city. >> Yeah. No, I agree. It's pretty volunteer >> because I do it to me, you know, I sit here and I look at what Ocala pays their commissioners versus Newberry. I mean, >> it's huge of a difference. You know, a
lot of times people think that we show up on Tuesdays and this is all that we do. There's a lot more to this than what people realize. You know, each one of us represents one vote.
So, so to me, I don't do it for the for the money. >> No, >> but everybody's not the same. And and I'm not saying that people are going to sit up here and do it for the money, but
>> because regard this what $600, $800, ain't nobody coming here just doing that for a month for for the money. So it's $800. I'm just saying it it helps to, as she's saying, kind of recoup some things that may be lost. People taking off from
their job. I take off every time we go somewhere. And I mean every time. And whereas my AL used to be here, it's here now. You know what I'm saying? And it no matter what money that you we give each
other, I mean give is going to pay me for that time that I'm taking off, but I am sacrificing. I'm sacrificing time that I can go and have vacations with family because I'm using vacation. So those are the things that I'm talking
about. I mean, just show some appreciation, I guess. You know, I mean, I'm I'm okay, but somebody else that may come up here and sit up here may not be okay. You understand what I'm saying? And then now you'll have once again a council of
people who are not going to better themselves, to get the knowledge because they can't afford to go and do it. That's all. I mean we we we we uh we have a prede right but nobody ever gets redeem
because we use credit card does the credit card that we use the amount that we're getting is that equal to what the redeem is is it less is it more you know there is no structure there either
so I'm just saying it's just thought to increase you can increase not increase. Um, it add some things, not add some things, but >> I'm fine with moving those.
>> So, you want to increase term limits? Anybody else want to increase the term limits? >> I might not have signed up if it was for four years. I'm going to be really honest. I felt really lucky that I got to come in in a window of time where I was appointed for a couple of months and
got to kind of see what the time expectations were and I think fouryear commitment. That's that's a big commitment. Never done anything like this before and this is kind of like ground zero for you know um it's not
like there's a smaller city council inside of that you can go practice on and then come here. Um and so um I I would be more comfortable in three years than four years. And I totally understand >> three is fine.
>> Yeah. He talked about like by the time and I get it by the time you I mean I feel like I am just starting to like get below the surface of the water in figuring out how things work and then all of a sudden like your term's up and you might not get reelected and which is fine. You don't deserve to get reelected. You don't deserve to get
reelected. Well, I think four years is a big >> Well, in the reason why I brought it up was when Darthus and I went to EMU class one and we're meeting all these different council people from all around
the state of Florida and uh the lady at the time u Len Tipton Florida League of Cities was asking everybody how many what's your terms? We were like the only one with two years and they're like, "How do you all even
get anything done?" Because your first year, you're just trying to figure it all out. In your second year, >> you're you're like you said, you're kind of getting into the water there, but then halfway through it, you're going to be like, man, I got reelection next
year. So, your focus seems to want to shift, you know? So um but that's that's why I thought about it. We went to that and then the second class we went to again
the same thing people agreed. >> Okay. And so we do think about doing that. So what about the consecutive terms? >> Are you still fine with the three consecutive terms? It wouldn't be 12 years anymore right now.
Then you can always take some time off and come back, >> right? >> That's not why I put it on there. I mean, >> okay, that's why I put it on. to make sure >> I have a question for um Patricia like
just with >> I feel like the advantage of two years is that you know we don't get as many special elections you worry that if we got we went to longer I'm not referring to the um the consecutive terms but the actual term
length if we went to a longer term length and we had people who had to step down for one reason or another I'm just thinking about the cost city of special elections and people you know four years or even three years you know if they move which could happen at any point I guess but our cost in terms of special
election >> so de tell us why you don't like the terms they turn you just oh you won still 12. No, 3 * 3. >> I know. That's what I just said.
>> I just said if we leave it at three terms, then it's not going to be 12 years anymore. It'll be nine years because we'll be doing three and three. But what are what about it? Are you not liking? Tell me. >> I don't like,
>> right? Why? because I don't like she'll end up with new people all the time >> and nobody will have history. Nobody will have background. Nobody will know employees. Nobody will know. You can have constant change.
>> But you can have that if there was >> that's enough. >> So everybody's longevity. >> It helps to have somebody who knows and the employees and and has memory.
What's going on? [Laughter] >> I mean, it's good. I mean, that's not I'm not It's nothing bad, but I I'm just saying >> I haven't been here that long. If you look at all my different >> No. Yeah. >> But I have this consecutive
correct off and >> this is just consecutive. It's not saying that somebody couldn't serve for you know 18 years. they just can't do more than and we could make it 12 years and then they have to take a break and take a break. >> But then if if you don't have anybody
that run against you then you can stay on anyway. So >> I'm not just thinking about me. I'm just thinking about all brand new people sitting here. Every three years you could end up all brand new people. >> Well that that would happen anyway rather we change this.
>> Correct. Correct. That could happen anyway. It could, >> right? >> It could, but >> yes, sorry. I see. >> Maybe that'd be a good thing. I can understand maybe some term limits. Maybe what's wrong with two, three year limits
and y'all split so some new blood comes in here. Maybe Wilson needs a change for the good, not all for the bad. >> That's what the ballot box is for. Mr. >> I understand that too. For that to happen, people have to come up and want to be a part of the change. >> I would work for free. I took off today.
I took off early today to come here. Just that meeting. So don't talk about sacrifice. We often sacrifice something. Some of us do. I sacrifice extra 200 bucks to come here. >> So that doesn't mean people can't talk about sacrifice. >> Well, so don't say don't talk about sacrifice. Talk about sacrifice. And
that's great. >> I love Willis. >> Is there anything else? Does anybody else have anything else? >> You're at it. >> So, she's against term limits. >> I say we do one thing at a time. I think
giving if you give the public a threeyear term limit, you've got about three sections of your charter that will have to be changed because all the election parts got to be changed. >> You're going to have four or five questions on the ballot all at once. uh that all have to do with changing that
charter thing to accomplish that one thing because it's not just changing is changing the elections is changing the president is changing everything because that kind of goes along with it because you vote every year for the president. I'm still okay with that. I
think that's the way it needs to be. >> Yeah. Agreed. >> So we don't want to do the alternating presidents. I don't >> Well, he agreed to Miss Meredith. >> I I think we should
>> every year. >> All right. So, you guys didn't want to increase rates. >> So, what who wants to do? >> I'm not I am not opposed to ter. I would like to see >> and I very much appreciate what Deborah
said and when I first started on this council I was very appreciative of the diversity that we had because we had you know we we did have the institutional knowledge and the understanding of that and I'm but if that wouldn't go away it would just mean that you couldn't run
term after term after term after term after term after that you would have to take three breaks and then come Oh, yes. Absolutely. You're absolutely correct. Yes. >> Yeah. >> And and you know, and true, it's like if the community wants you there that much, they will vote for you the next time.
So, there's there's the answer to that. >> I agree with them. I think I'm I'm fine with doing the uh the term limits. I'm fine with doing the not taking a pay increase.
>> And what about executive or so by term limit you mean executive terms or you mean the number of years? with that as well. >> And we could change if we change the the the term from two to three, we could
increase the number of consecutive terms to four, which would get us the number 12. 12 years of somebody being on the council is is great, but also we need new voices. >> You want to say something?
>> Sure. You all know I'm very big about being a part of Florida cities. I'm very big about you all being on committees and attending classes and stuff. Uh the Florida League of Cities have a program that recognizes
council members that have been on the council 20 years and I would like for city be one of those that get recognized by having a council member with 20 years. That's just me.
>> And so this last year, I say leave it to the public. If they elect, they don't. And like I said, if you do increase in the term limit, you're going to be doing good to get that pass. One thing at a time because it's probably going to be three or four things.
>> Yeah. Because we're going on Tammy's um ballots. So what do when we're talking about I mean what things have to be voted on by the public >> when you're talking about the charter everything except for
your basically everything except for your boundaries has to be voted on um by the so certainly everything that we've discussed here would need to be voted on. Um to answer the question I don't know exactly how many amendments it would be. I as a middle ground I can
offer you I can draft an ordinance that would have the proposed ballot language for both of these changes. Um and you could determine I mean if it turns out to be four for the first one and it's one for the next one then you know you you all can sort of choose from there
give you more information. Um if you'd like me to do that I just don't know how many it'll be until I go in and make the changes. I would I mean you don't know things unless you try it.
>> So that it may be this or it may be that is just throwing stuff out there. >> So the problem >> I I just >> Yeah. I I I just I don't know how many the first one will be. >> I mean, it will certainly be probably more than one.
>> Absolutely. Um but I I can't tell you how many it would be um without going in and making the changes. So, just just a recap, refresher, essentially what it would be is an ordinance that I bring back to you all, which would have um two
things. It would have a redlinined version of what the new charter would look like so that you can take a look at that. And then it would also have proposed ballot language to effectuate the two changes that you all want to
propose to the voters. So it would have um that language that says question one, should the charter be amended to um increase the term from two years to three years in this way and then it'll change preferences. What I will say is
as I'm as I'm thinking this through, we'll want to put it in as few if it's one change, we want to put it in as few amendment proposals, ballot language proposals possible because the worst possible situation that could occur
>> is one passes and the other doesn't. So you've got okay to your term limits are now three years instead of two years, but no to changing all the other election dates. you're like, well, not really sure what to do with that.
So, we want to sort of group all of the absolute necessary ones. And that's part of what the art of charter changes. Definitely want to avoid having two years terms with three term consecutive
limit because then we're limiter. I'm Albert Fuller and I live in the city of Wilson. I'm concerned that this discussion should not be among the council people only. That somehow there should be citizen
input. The reason I'm concerned about it is because to a large degree there has been apathy among the citizenship and and you can you can tell by the number of people in the room. Uh and so if you just
discuss it among yourselves then you may end up with the same thing and no real citizen input. We don't truly know to a large degree why these seats are being filled by the same
people every time or you begging for people to sign to sign up to run. And I honestly hope that there is some kind of workshop or something where citizens get a chance to speak where there's a concern where concerns are
expressed about how the city is being run. Frankly, I do believe that there is a need for a little bit more diversity in terms of ages and in terms of
backgrounds of people who serve on the council because the council is supposed to be representative of the people and sometimes we don't know what the people are actually thinking because you question how many of you all have
actually gone out and spoke with citizens of various of various background and for that reason somehow citizens need to be involved in this in this whole discussion. Uh it may be that
there are some young people out there that need to sit up here and maybe a little bit more attractive salary for counsel may be a reason why they may sit up there where it may not
mean a lot to you all because you're set you're you're set or settled and you say I I do this for nothing or I don't need the But somehow there needs to be some citizen input. I'm definitely not one
that's ever pushed for larger larger taxes or taxing the citizens more for the for the job that anyone does. But I'm not the only one. I'm not I'm not even the only one that should be thinking about that. There may be some people with real motives for want to
serve the city, but just have not ever considered it. We need to have that discussion with people with people other than just the four people or five people that are sitting up there. And I don't know if that's if that's a workshop
or if or whatever means but or if it's announcement made such that more people will come in and discuss this issue. But I have to say what presently happened does not give us the full potential that
we should be getting. Uh and I think that you all probably should question yourself how many how many diverse citizens in terms of salaries in terms of neighborhoods in terms of all those factors have been have you
been talking to before discussing this? because if you haven't then this then this conversation is not valid. And so somehow we got to get at we got to start representing the city with the people
that inhabit and make up the city rather than having people come up at one time and only talk about this emergency because my light bill went up double or whatever. We got to start having people involved
in every element of running and we should see more people sitting out there than just somehow we got to revitalize. I don't have all the answers but I know that we
haven't done all the homework. >> Thank you for that. Also, um I think part of that is the charter that we've been discussing for 5 years at least. So, that would would help. But then in order to make any
changes, we have to work on the charter anyway. So, that was actually going to be my next thing to talk about. But, so you have something >> for this or something else? >> Oh, I don't know. You just kind of set up.
just >> okay. So any further discussion on this this we talked about >> I will bring those back. Um it will it will not be at your next meeting. I can guarantee you that.
>> No >> okay >> ballot language crafting is going to take me more than than one week. >> Yeah. I know when I had talked to Tammy Jones about it, I think she said the deadline to be on there for this year
was I think around December 1st to get stuff in for the upcoming election. >> I just want to start talking about it. >> I can have it in the meeting. >> Okay. >> To Mr. Fuller's point, it'll be on the
agenda. So we can certainly have plenty of discussion from the community at that point when it comes back because it won't be we won't be voting at that point the ordinance or we would be voting on whether
>> so I would have it as first read of the ordinance just because that's that's how we typically present ordinances but if you won't make any you're welcome to make changes to it and if you make changes to it it'll just be first read again >> I will say it was on this agenda agenda
and I've already heard from a lot of people mostly about the salaries being raised. Anything else from the public? Anything else? >> All right. >> Public participation in council.
>> All right. So, next item is public participation. This is your second opportunity to speak for five minutes. Please state your name and >> is there anyone who would like to speak and you have did I say that? >> Hi again. Uh Shana Church, 590
Northwest. I should know my address by now. 590 Northwest fourth place. Um to Mr. Fuller's um concern, that's basically what I was hoping to speak upon today. Um, it kind of goes into the utility issue that I had brought up to
the council at the last meeting and a little bit into just communication between the city and the residents, which I understand can be difficult because of the nature of some of the issues. Is Waw Wa coming? Is Waw Wa not coming? Uh, what's going on with my neighbor's utility bill versus mine
being a third of that? Um, I believe if we were able to focus on the communication, whether we do town halls and allow more participation or we put out some sort of newsletter, something addressing the concerns that are brought to your, you know, your attention during
the city council meetings without having to personally address each one of us as we come up here, but still bringing some information to the concern, I believe would be a huge benefit for both sides involved. As far as from our side, there
are a number of residents that are meeting just with each other just to kind of figure out, okay, what's going on? What's our biggest concern? Then we can try to come up here. The seats are empty because they feel like they come up, they say something, they know they're not guaranteed that there's an answer, but then it stops there. So then
my next step, it was my little crusade was, okay, I'm going to call up here. I'm going to come. I'm going to make an appointment with Sue or whoever I need to to figure out what's the next step so I can have some information to come back and tell the residents that are asking me, hey, do you have an update? Because I'm in the same boat. Um, as far as I've
been told, it's just contact the city manager, come in, do a case by case. But unless I'm going out there and just announcing it with a megaphone for people to hear, that information is not told to the residents. So I believe when we're dealing with a transparency issue, if we just however we choose, whether
it's online social media or having a town hall or just a newsletter, something where it says, "Hey, we hear your concerns. We are looking into this. We may not have an answer just yet or we may not have a fix to a long-term problem just yet, but these are things we are working on. And if you have any
concerns that affect you directly, here's who to contact. Here are the next steps." Just so that way the residents know, okay, we're heard. Some of us can't come up here. I know myself, I have to get a sitter and then take time off from taking care of my dad who has cancer just to come up here for a few
hours. And I believe the last time I was up here for like five hours. But it's a very important thing and I wanted to have some kind of solid information or some sort of plan, somewhere to to go to figure out, okay, what do we do now? Because yes, at the end of the day, we were told you have until this time on
this this day to pay that utility bill and some way we figure it out. But there are so many of us that are going, "Okay, what do I do? What do I do?" And then they just come home to no utilities because they don't know who to call or who to come up or even to be able to take the time off to come up here on that day and guarantee that they could
speak to somebody. They can call and leave a message, but it may end there because you guys are busy. Everyone's busy. Everyone has their day-to-day jobs. So, if we can work on something to just get that information um or online posting or just more opportunities to
get the information out to the residents, maybe we might have more participation and maybe we might have more people who are willing to come forward and say, "Hey, I want to run." Um, and that also goes into what you were proposing. Me myself, if that's something I was looking forward to doing, I do have to take extra time off.
I do have to pay for sitters and things like that. So even though it's a passion of mine and I would want to come up here to do just what I feel like is the right thing if I if I have something I can bring to the table, I still would also have to make sure that it's not taking more time and money away from my family just to be able to pay the bill that I'm
coming up here trying to fix. So there's a lot of different things um at hand, a lot of little separate fires to kind of put out and and work on. Um, I just feel if we start with communication first, maybe we might find some answers quicker or might be able to work together a
little faster or just have more ideas, more resources, more more wells that we can tap to conquer these issues. That that's my only tidbit is just what can we do for communication? What can we do on our side as far as residents to help with that?
>> Thank you. any comment from >> I know that our city manager did do a newsletter when she was city manager of Bronson and I know that's one of her the things that she's hoping to get going here in Willist. So she talked about that. I think we interviewed her that
was things that she was most proud of. just hasn't had a chance in the first eight, six, eight months she's been here to get that. But it is a really valid point and I think she will think that'd be a great start just to at least establish rapport with the residents and
they know who to come to and what they can talk about versus feeling just hopeless because right now that's the general consensus that I'm hearing from the residents to reach out to me. They don't know what's >> Yeah. make sure they're all on our Facebook page because there's Latricia posts information there all the time.
Erin's always posting stuff. Uh some of our other departments actually have Facebook pages, >> right? Yeah. And I do follow them a lot of times at updates regarding the Fiverr, what's going on with certain events you guys are putting on, so you can answer more questions. And then I do see that there is a lot of feedback
whether it be positive or negative. So it can make that a little hard to navigate. Um, but as far as if are you facing this issue, this is what we suggest you do. Give us a call, ask to speak to so- and so. And then when you do call and say, hey, I've met with this
person, this person, this person, it's, you know, where are the notations as far as like this is what's going on with my account, so on and so forth. So, even if they do get to the point, which some of them have to speak with Sue, I know myself ran into this issue. I called the day of my bill being, you know, hey, you
paid her, you're off. Um, and they said, "Oh, there's nothing in the account. We don't know what your situation is or what your plan was with Sue." And I'm like, "Okay, so let me just hop over there." And I ended up having to take a day off from work. Come up here and say, "What's going on?" And luckily, Mr. Bishop was able to meet with me and I was able to meet with Sue, but not
everybody can do that. So, in the situation where they can't take off from work, they just have to wait till it gets cut off and then try to come and do it all over again. >> I will say they usually call and sometimes they email. I got an email >> like you did and I know they happen to copy me on it because they knew I've
been talking to you before. Um I appreciate it. >> Yeah. And and I think a lot of times they don't they don't turn people off unless they call. It says on the bill they don't guarantee that they'll call, but we used to have oh my heavens probably 45 to 60 people on the cuto off
list. Now it's way down. They're telling me there were nine this time. So, and those nine, I guarantee we'll get a phone call or email, they won't turn them off without calling, at least giving them the opportunity. >> That that's at least something I can let them know. >> Yes.
>> So, if they don't recognize the number or >> a lot of a lot of them >> call me at home even and I have even tried to call utility department to help them. Um, it just they will pay the after hours fee to get turned back on,
you know, that sort of thing, >> right? Okay. But they're usually willing to have that done. It's um the situation. >> That's good information. That should be at least a good start for the people who just don't know what to do or who to ask. >> So when we do town hall meetings,
Latricia posts it on Facebook and things like that. And Mr. Barber, Mr. Bishop, maybe you can help refresh my memory. A year ago, we had a town hall with uh gas or water and we had
two people >> almost nobody >> three people that showed up and that had been broadcasted out that it's a town hall meeting and to come that they can see what >> maybe it might be more along the concern of just the residents feeling okay I
really want change I need to show up I need to speak my issue I need to right >> be willing to discuss The problem is they do it all on Facebook. >> Oh yeah. >> They go there and they look for answers >> instead of
calling up here and talking to the people that know what's going on and you know and the lady at church. So Waw Wa's not coming. Get off Facebook. >> Yeah. >> You know so >> that's a valid point and I do try to bring that up when I try to encourage
more residents. Please come up be, you know, then you're hurt and we can only talk about so many things within the five minutes before. >> And I I was going to say I don't mean to cut you off, but five minutes. >> Sorry. Thank you. >> Yes, ma'am. Thank you. >> Is there anyone else? Is there anybody
online? >> There's Cody. I just wanted to see if there's a in case I missed it possibly if there was a time frame for everything that or was it just by next meeting? >> Yeah, two weeks next meeting.
It was just up to next meeting. Correct. everything. Okay. >> Yeah, we want to get it done. >> And and if y'all got a 401k or an IRA, you need to let Kim know right away. >> Okay. >> Yes.
>> Just wanted to say that there have been there have been town meetings that we didn't have space in that room over there. So, it amounts to positive advertising. what you're actually saying make it important for people to come up. So, let's not just say, well, we had two
people that time or three people the time before because I've also been in town town hall meetings where we didn't have seats in there. They had no time to come in. So, if we make if we do it right, town hall meetings will work.
>> Definitely depends on the subject. >> Anyone else? >> All right. If not, does the council have any announcements? >> Yes, >> Miss Latricia, go ahead. >> Wednesday, September the 10th, 6:00 p.m.
fire assistant hearing. >> Thank you. Anything else? Anything else from anyone on the council? >> Yeah. Uh, let's see. Just a couple of things. uh the organizational chart that their
city manager sent out. I don't know if y'all noticed, but it's >> can't read it. >> Can't read it. There's at least seven or eight employees on there that are not working for us. So, we need to go
through and get that corrected. And just for the record, >> but it was emailed out. No. >> Right. >> Um, record keeper. Just for my knowledge, Latricia's our record keeper.
Anything that comes in needs to go to her. Right. >> All right. >> Thank you. >> Ju just to clarify on that last thing. Just because it doesn't get to Latricia does not mean it's not a public record. So So sending it to Latricia best
practice because she keeps all of our public records. I just didn't want anyone to hear that if I don't send it to Latricia, it's not a public record. It it is >> we just want to make sure that Latricia is getting the things that she needs in order to effectively do her job >> and not get stuck somewhere else as
opposed to with her. >> Any other announcements from staff in the back? She rolls his hand up. >> Can you help me with that one? I'm trying. >> Yeah, this was a long meeting for such a
short agenda. >> Just wanted to remind everybody we're about a month from uh peanut festival. So, community talked about being made aware of things and that's always a big thing for the town and it's important for us. So, I just wanted to mention that one. >> Also, these meetings are recorded and
broadcast during >> so that's another avenue as well. Yeah. And they're also available on YouTube >> and also available >> in perpetuity. >> Right. Yes, ma'am. All right. Adjournment.
Can I get a motion? >> Second. >> Second. >> Got a motion and a second. Any discussion? Public council. If none move to vote. All those in favor say I. >> I. >> All those opposed? Nay. Motion passes 4
to zero.