GENTRY — Two ordinances which would expand the size of the town’s water committee and sewer committee passed on a first reading at Highfill’s town council meeting on Thursday.

The ordinances, if passed on three readings, will expand the number of positions on each board from three to five. The change is being proposed because of the expansion of the town’s water and sewer systems and because of the difficulty at times to have a quorum in attendance at meetings to carry out necessary business.

The proposed ordinance would allow the mayor to appoint - subject to council approval - committee members to two-year terms. The terms would be staggered so that not all committee members would finish their terms at the same time.

The committees would continue to function under the control of the town council, and the town council could remove any member of the committees with or without cause.

Volunteers will be sought for appointment to the two additional posts on each committee.

With rules suspended, the proposed ordinances were read by title only. Only three of the five council members were present, making it necessary for Highfill Mayor Chris Holland to cast a vote to suspend the rules. Sandy Evans, Toby Lester and Keven Varner voted for the ordinances. Richard Boles and James Wiand were absent.

Holland also announced Wiand’s resignation from the town council. Wiand accepted a position with the city as head of the street and maintenance department following the resignation of Kently Insco, Holland said.

In other business, the council approved a resolution retiring and disposing of Judah, the city’s police dog, due to the dog’s age and condition. The resolution permitted Judah’s handler, Eric Jones, to take possession of the animal.

Fire Chief Jeremy Jackson requested and received approval from the council to reallocate money in his budget to have his two assistant chiefs, Gene Holland and Jeff Parks, each work one day per week doing inspections, upkeep and maintenance on fire trucks and stations; flow test fire hydrants; complete and update reports; and maintain documents and administer the ISO program.

Jackson said he’s been having trouble getting tasks done because his firefighters are busy working multiple jobs and don’t have time to help with the maintenance work. He said having the two assistant chiefs do the work and paying them $100 per day would benefit the department and possibly lower ISO ratings for the fire district, benefiting the community.

“I don’t have a problem with it as long as it’s in the budget,” councilwoman Sandy Evans said. Lester and Varner also approved the request.

Mayor Holland asked council members to be thinking of ways the town could help out residents by entering into a citywide trash contract with a provider. He said the move was necessary because of current problems residents are having with trash service.

“When the people call the city, we have no way to help our citizens with their (trash pick-up) problems,” he said.

If trash service would be contracted through thecity, the city would have recourse when citizens call, Holland said.

Holland suggested ideas be brought back to the May council meeting. He said a public hearing could also be called.

Holland asked council members for some direction on obtaining office furniture for the new town hall. He wanted to know if the council would like him to try to get the furnishings to match throughout or seek some good used furniture to help keep costs down.

Holland also asked for permission to use money brought in through police department fines and normally set aside for police vehicles to hire professional services to draw up a plan for a new police station for the town. Holland suggested hiring an architect to drawup plans for a 40-foot by 60-foot building so that the town is ready should grant funding become available.

The town received a$35,000 grant toward installing storm sirens in the town and a $50,000 grant for turn-out gear, Holland said, adding that he’d like to apply for additional grant money to build a police station and maybe someday a rodeo grounds.

The town’s attorney, Steve Miller, said the matter would need to be brought back to the council next month as a resolution. Holland said he would check on the cost of hiring an architect to prepare plans for a police station which would serve the town’s needs for 10 or more years.

News, Pages 1 on 04/14/2010