Jennifer Perry Middleton
Jefferson Jimplecute
It was a 1-2 punch at Tuesday night’s Jefferson City Council meeting as a construction permit for a new activity building at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church was knocked down with groups and residents asking Council to table the request. But Council members landed a hammer blow to City organization when they abolished the City Administrator position and relieved Eric Kuykendall of his job.
Kuykendall and the City’s Public Works Director Allen Whatley have been in a disagreement for the last several months, causing neither to speak with the other unless absolutely necessary. That disagreement escalated to Council’s attention on March 14 with a special meeting to discuss the situation. That meeting led to no action being taken and Council again taking up the matter during their regular meeting on March 22. Again, no action came from that meeting either.
The last item on a lengthy agenda Tuesday signaled the end of the situation with Kuykendall agreeing to take up to six months severance and full benefits, less than what his employment contract called stated. Ward 1/3 Alderman Richard Turner made the motion to abolish the City Administrator position and execute the clause in the employment contract. James Parsons seconded the motion and with a 6-0 vote, the City ended their relationship with Kuykendall.
Council did not take up any concerns or issues raised about Whatley’s job or performance. Whatley had asked that any discussions concerning him be done in a public hearing.
Kuykendall was not available for comment as of press time Wednesday.
It’s the end of an era of City Administrators for the City, with employees and residents wondering where the City goes from here and who is now responsible for many activities of City Government. According to City Ordinance, the responsibilities will now fall to City Secretary Melissa Boyd.
In another false start, Council tabled the building permit for a two-story, 16,000-square-foot building at 201 North Vale Street for the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church. The structure, if approved, would have been complete by June 2023 and include an activity room large enough for a high school basketball court. Modeled after other Catholic activity centers, it would also contain a modern kitchen for the St. Vincent de Paul food ministry, three classrooms, a media room, lounge, library and conference room. A prayer garden would also be established between the church and the activity center for use by both parishioners and the general public.
Architect Brett Brevard of Tyler, who has experience working on projects for the Catholic Diocese, including renovations to the church in 2012, answered questions about the church’s construction plans and gave additional details about the project. He said that the lot had been vacant for a long time and that if the activity center was not built, it was destined to become a parking lot.
“The building is intended as a magnet and an opportunity for young people in Jefferson to go and do things,” Brevard told the Council. “The congregation at Immaculate Conception is somewhat senior in nature and they are striving to attract a more youthful congregation.”
During public comments at the beginning of the meeting, concerned citizens expressed their thoughts on the proposed building, including Ted McKinnon, who read a letter from George Otstott, who lives by the church, Bobbie Hardy with the Excelsior Foundation and Mark McKay, who lives south of the proposed structure. Hardy said she was against approval for the activity building because it was modern, contemporary architecture to be constructed in the middle of a city filled with historic antebellum homes.
“It is out of scale for the neighborhood and for the City of Jefferson,” she told the Council. “To build this building as it’s presented, a contemporary, huge, two-story structure, is a mistake. Please vote no.”
McKay stated that his property will be facing a blank wall if the center is built and wanted to know if the electric cables to the building would be overhead or buried. He also suggested that the city create an architectural review board for projects such as this to preserve the historic look and feel of Jefferson.
Ward 2/3 Alderman Robin Moore asked several of those giving public comment if they had raised concerns when the Ambulance Bay was built across the street from the proposed structure. All asked stated they did not, but that was a different matter – public health and emergency services vs a privately held structure.
Brevard addressed their concerns during his moment at the podium, and said the current plans show overhead electricity, and that the building would be metal with a brick façade to blend into the existing architecture and include New Orleans-style balconies similar to the others seen around town.
“The Catholic Church is very interested in all projects and that the buildings do not detract from their chapel or church building,” he said.
Mayor Rob Baker said he had several individuals and groups approach him about the project when the meeting agenda was posted and that there was much respectful curiosity surrounding it. Council agreed to table the permit until a meeting could be held with the Catholic Diocese and the public for the purpose of gathering more information about the project. Baker also asked members of Council who attend ICCC to recuse themselves from voting on the motion. Moore and Ward 1 Alderman David Westbrook recused themselves.
In other business, Baker read a proclamation announcing April as Fair Housing Month in the City of Jefferson to encourage residents to learn more about and support the Fair Housing Law.
Francene Rainey with Diamond Don Events also spoke to the Council about several upcoming events, which are repeated from previous years. They include the Mother’s Day Express on the Historic Jefferson Railway, the Friday the 13th Evening Train in May and the Great Locomotive Chase. Moore questioned their use of cannon fire during their events, with Rainey stating that not using the cannot during the events would dramatically affect the event attendance and revenue.
The Battle of Big Cypress Bayou Street Skirmish on Austin Street was approved for April 30, despite Ward 2/3 Alderman Robin Moore raising concerns about cannon fire at Jim McIntosh’s re-enactment event. Baker and McIntosh reminded Moore that that was a separate event and those concerns did not apply to the skirmish event. A driveway extension for 315 East Whelan Street and sign permits for the new Dollar General Market at 211 South Walcott. The approval of a trailer home at 203 MLK was tabled until next meeting as the requestor was ill.
Council also approved a preliminary use of the American Rescue Plan Act Funds for water and sewer projects within the city, as a project proposal is due to the federal government by April 30. The project parameters can change after this date, but not after supplies are ordered for said project, and Council agreed to work to identify needed projects within the city.
Before adjourning at 9:30p.m., Turner requested that future first Tuesday special meetings be limited to their original purpose – to discuss and make changes to City Ordinances and the Employee Handbook. Other Councilmembers echoed the request.