East Central Reporter

City of Flora City Council met Aug. 18.

Here are the minutes provided by the council:

OPENING CEREMONIES

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

Others in attendance were Chief of Police Jeremy Ruger, City Attorney Bob Coble, City Administrator/Economic Development Director Mike Stanford, City Clerk Kaci O'Dell, City Treasurer Stephanie Bailey, Building and Zoning Official Chad Bayles and Superintendent of Public Services Toby Rinehart. There were a few guests and two media representatives in attendance.

Mayor Rick Slaughter led the Pledge of Allegiance and Commissioner Phil Wiley offered the Invocation.

PUBLIC COMMENTS

Clay County Garden Club President Cassie Devore and Vice President Bobbie Bentley addressed the council for their request. Together, with Flora Rotary, they would like to host a community clean-up day using Library Park as a meeting spot. They requested garbage totes to use for the trash they collect.

A MOTION TO APPROVE CLAY COUNTY GARDEN CLUB AND FLORA ROTARY TO USE LIBRARY PARK ON OCTOBER 4, 2025 FOR COMMUNITY CLEAN-UP DAY WAS MADE BY COMMISSIONER WILEY; SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER SPICER.

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

No - None

Abstain - None; Absent - None

Employee Engagement Team Member Roni Mason, with Clay County Hospital, requested use of Charley Brown Park for an upcoming family-friendly fundraising event for Clay County Cancer Crusaders.

A MOTION TO APPROVE CLAY COUNTY HOSPITAL TO USE CHARLEY BROWN PARK ON OCTOBER 17, 2025 FOR A ZOMBIE FUN RUN WAS MADE BY COMMISSIONER WILEY; SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER FEHRENBACHER.

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

No - None

Abstain - None; Absent - None

APPROVAL OF AGENDA

A MOTION TO APPROVE THE AGENDA FOR THE AUGUST 18, 2025, REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING FOR THE CITY OF FLORA WAS MADE BY COMMISSIONER FEHRENBACHER; SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER SPICER.

➤ 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 JULY 2025

ACCEPT BUILDING AND ZONING REPORT FOR JULY 2025

APPROVE REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES OF AUGUST 4, 2025

APPROVE SCHEDULE OF BILLS FOR JULY 30, 2025 THROUGH AUGUST 12, 2025 APPROVE TREASURERS REPORT FOR JULY 2025

APPROVE REQUEST FROM CLAY COUNTY FARM BUREAU TO USE CHARLEY BROWN PARK ON SEPTEMBER 18, 2025 (RAIN DATE: SEPTEMBER 26, 2025) FARM SAFETY DAY

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

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

No - None

Abstain - None; Absent – None

REGULAR BUSINESS

Commissioner Linda Spicer thanked Superintendent of Public Services Toby Rinehart and his crew for their work on the water leak that took place over the weekend.

Commissioner Phil Wiley also thanked all the employees who worked on the water leak. Then, he presented one item for approval.

A MOTION TO APPROVE ORDINANCE NO. 25-3450, AN ORDINANCE APPROVING THE CONTRACT FOR CLEANING SERVICES OF THE CITY OF FLORA CITY HALL PUBLIC WORKS, POLICE DEPARTMENT, FIRE DEPARTMENT AND LIBRARY WITH PAULA FRUTIGER d/b/a FRUTIGER'S CLEANING (09/01/2025-08/31/2028) WAS MADE BY COMMISSIONER SPICER; SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER FEHRENBACHER.

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

No - None

Abstain - Henderson; Absent - None

Commissioner Jim Fehrenbacher echoed the other Commissioners, giving his thanks to the crews who worked on the water leak.

City Administrator/Economic Development Director Mike Stanford thanked the council for making investments into equipment that made last night's leak repair safer and quicker. The Guillotine Saw made the job safer and the new Jetter Truck made it possible to accomplish a lot in a quick time frame. Stanford stated all departments involved greatly appreciated the purchases. With school starting the following day, the firetrucks were used to wash down the road to ensure the buses had a smooth first day.

Next, City Administrator/Economic Development Director Mike Stanford had a couple of items for approval.

A MOTION TO APPROVE ORDINANCE NO. 25-3446, AN ORDINANCE AMENDING TITLE 1, CHAPTER 5, SECTION 9 “MEETINGS OF THE COUNCIL” WAS MADE BY COMMISSIONER WILEY; SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER SPICER.

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

No - None

Abstain - None; Absent - None

A MOTION TO APPROVE ORDINANCE NO. 25-3449, AN ORDINANCE APPROVING A TAX INCREMENT REDEVELOPMENT PLAN WITH FLORA COMMUNITY UNIT SCHOOL DISTRICT #35 ($52,029.00) WAS MADE BY COMMISSIONER FEHRENBACHER; SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER SPICER.

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

No - None

Abstain - None; Absent – None

A MOTION TO PASS A RESOLUTION OF AUTHORIZATION FOR THE OPEN SPACE LANDS ACQUISITION AND DEVELOPMENT GRANT FOR THE CITY OF FLORA 2025 WAS MADE BY COMMISSIONER WILEY; SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER SPICER.

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

No - None

Abstain - None; Absent – None

Building and Zoning Official Chad Bayles had two items for approval.

A MOTION TO APPROVE ORDINANCE NO. 25-3447, AN ORDINANCE GRANTING A VARIANCE TO THE CLARA LOUISE BOOTH REVOCABLE TRUST (206 S. STATE ST.) WAS MADE BY COMMISSIONER WILEY; SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER SPICER.

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

No - Henderson

Abstain - None; Absent – None

A MOTION TO APPROVE ORDINANCE NO. 25-3448, AN ORDINANCE GRANTING A SPECIAL USE TO JANICE SCHOFIELD LOCATED AT 447 E. 2ND STREET & 551 E 2ND STREET (ONE BUILDING WITH TWO ADDRESSES) WAS MADE BY COMMISSIONER FEHRENBACHER; SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER SPICER.

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

No - None

Abstain - None; Absent - None

August 18, 2025

Superintendent of Public Services Toby Rinehart had one item for approval.

A MOTION TO APPROVE ORDINANCE NO. 25-3445, AN ORDINANCE APPROVING PROPOSAL TO FURNISH MATERIALS AND APPROVAL OF AWARD FOR OIL AND CHIPPING (MT. CARMEL STABILIZATION GROUP, INC. - $188,684.55) WAS MADE BY COMMISSIONER FEHRENBACHER; SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER WILEY.

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

No - None

Abstain - None; Absent – None

ADJOURN

At approximately 4:52 p.m. with no further business to discuss, Mayor Slaughter requested a motion to adjourn.

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

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