East Central Reporter

City of Flora City Council met Nov. 20.

Here are the minutes provided by the council:

Mayor Rick Slaughter called the Regular Council Meeting of the City of Flora to order and City Clerk Becky Burgess called roll. Present were Mayor Rick Slaughter, Commissioner Linda Spicer, Commissioner Jeremy Henderson, Commissioner Phil Wiley and Commissioner Jim Fehrenbacher.

Others in attendance were City Attorney Bob Coble, City Administrator/Economic Development Director Mike Stanford, Chief of Police Guye Durre, City Clerk Becky Burgess, City Treasurer Abbie Orel, Superintendent of Public Services Toby Rinehart and Building and Zoning Official Chad Bayles. Two media representative and one guest were also present.

Mayor Rick Slaughter led the Pledge of Allegiance and Commissioner Jeremy Henderson offered the Invocation.

PUBLIC COMMENTS - None

APPROVAL OF AGENDA

A MOTION TO APPROVE THE AGENDA FOR THE NOVEMBER 20, 2023 REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING FOR THE CITY OF FLORA WAS MADE BY COMMISSIONER SPICER; SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER WILEY.

➤ Vote: Yes - Slaughter, Spicer, Henderson, Wiley, Fehrenbacher

No - None

Abstain - None; Absent - None

CONSENT AGENDA

The following items were listed under the Consent Agenda:

• ACCEPT POLICE DEPARTMENT ACTIVITY REPORT FOR OCTOBER 2023

• ACCEPT BUILDING AND ZONING REPORT FOR OCTOBER 2023

• APPROVE TREASURER'S REPORT FOR OCTOBER 2023

• APPROVE REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES OF NOVEMBER 6, 2023

• APPROVE SCHEDULE OF BILLS FOR PERIOD ENDING NOVEMBER 16, 2023

A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA WAS MADE BY COMMISSIONER WILEY; SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER FEHRENBACHER.

➤ Vote: Yes - Slaughter, Spicer, Henderson, Wiley, Fehrenbacher

No - None

Abstain - None; Absent - None

REGULAR BUSINESS

Commissioner Linda Spicer thanked the City crews for preparing the town for Christmas.

Commissioner Phil Wiley encouraged residents to be diligent when raking leaves so as not to clog the gutters. He reminded residents to place them near the curb for pickup. Wiley also thanked the residents and businesses who have started assembling their Christmas decorations.

City Administrator/Economic Development Director Mike Stanford presented an ordinance regarding a water rate increase, due to Gateway increasing their supply cost. Stanford noted that the cost of water would increase by forty cents, per thousand gallon, inside the City limits and increase by sixty cents, per thousand gallon outside, the City limits. He noted that the average household would see approximately $1.60 increase for those inside the City limits and approximately $2.40 for those outside the City limits.

Before going to vote, Commissioner Jeremy Henderson questioned if any comparison had been done with other communities to see how our rates compare. He also asked if there would be any additional increases in the future due to the new sewer plant being built.

Stanford explained that the City has a forty year contract with Gateway. He stated that he could not answer at this point if there would be other increases. Stanford noted that not passing on the increase would be a $60,000 loss, and the water is not a profitable area for the City. Stanford explained that with building a new wastewater treatment center, it is a requirement that water and sewer departments have to be self-supporting.

Henderson stated that going back to last year, that the net income for water and sewer was $1.4 million.

Commissioner Wiley noted that with inflation, it seems this is a is a very nominal rate increase and made a motion to pass the ordinance.

A MOTION TO PASS ORDINANCE NO. 23-3297, AN ORDINANCE AMENDING TITLE 8, CHAPTER 3, SECTION 2(J) AND (L) - WATER AND SEWER RATES, WAS MADE BY COMMISSIONER WILEY; SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER SPICER.

➤ Vote: Yes - Slaughter, Spicer, Wiley, Fehrenbacher

No Henderson

Abstain - None; Absent - None

Stanford explained that the bidding process has been completed, due to an upcoming retirement of a Street Department employee, and requested permission to begin advertising for a park position.

A MOTION TO ADVERTISE FOR A PARK DEPARTMENT EMPLOYEE WAS MADE BY COMMISSIONER FEHRENBACHER; SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER WILEY.

➤ Vote: Yes - Slaughter, Spicer, Henderson, Wiley, Fehrenbacher

No - None

Abstain - None; Absent - None

The last comments from Stanford were regarding the recent recycle event. Stanford noted that the truck was full, so they had to leave earlier than expected. They are considering scheduling another recycle event possibly in March of next year.

Commissioner Spicer thanked Stanford for allowing people to leave their hauled content for pickup during the next week.

City Treasurer Abbie Orel presented a request to open a new checking account

A MOTION TO APPROVE THE OPENING OF A NEW CHECKING ACCOUNT FOR THE PROPERTY TAX REFUNDS WAS MADE BY COMMISSIONER SPICER; SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER WILEY.

➤ Vote: Yes - Slaughter, Spicer, Henderson, Wiley, Fehrenbacher

No - None

Abstain - None; Absent - None

Superintendent of Public Services Toby Rinehart advised Council that after performing a recent inventory audit on the transformers, it was discovered that we are low on some of the transformers we may need, so we will be seeking bids for stock replacement.

ADJOURN

At approximately 4:39 p.m. with no further business to discuss, Mayor Slaughter requested a motion to adjourn.

COMMISSIONER WILEY MADE A MOTION TO ADJOURN; SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER SPICER. COUNCIL MEMBERS CONCURRED AND MAYOR SLAUGHTER DECLARED SAID MEETING ADJOURNED.

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