Staff Reports
The Jefferson City Council held a brief meeting Monday evening to approve rehiring Jon King to the Public Works Department and to modify the building permit previously approved on July 5 for Bobby Carson and Susie May.
King re-started his duties with the City on July 12 at the rate of $10.30 per hour.
The permit, for work at 119 N Polk St., originally placed a roll-off dumpster in the alleyway behind 113-117 N Polk Street. Objections to the location were mentioned by Hugh Lewis, owner of 113-117 N Polk, due to already having other equipment and dumpsters in the alleyway for eight months. Ward 1-2 Jim Finstrom also asked if there was a chance that additional damage to the city’s water/sewer lines in the alley was possible as had already happened due to other dumpsters. Lewis also requested approval be sought to place the dumpster in the parking lot located on the block. Council approved the original location request on July 5 but did ask Carson/May to see if putting it on the parking lot was possible.
Following the July 5 meeting, Jefferson Flower Market also lodged a concern over the approved location of the dumpster stating they had already placed their wholesale business on hold for eight months due to the other equipment and dumpsters in the alleyway and they did not wish to delay their business for another 4-8 months.
It was also determined that Carson/May did not have access to the alleyway where the dumpster was to be located from the back of their building. Their property does not extend all the way across the block to join the alley. As such, they requested the dumpster be placed on Polk Street in front of their property.
Jefferson Mayor Rob Baker said he and Ward 2 Alderman Hollis Shadden had spoken with TxDOT and had written agreement to place the dumpster on Polk as long as it did not enter the area for traffic, and was restricted to parking spaces three and four (of six total) of the block.
May also requested the use of a “chute” from the second floor of the building to the dumpster for easier placement of debris.
Council approved the requests with the addition of placing barricades at the spaces to ensure proper placement of the dumpster, and that the chute was removed over the weekends to keep the sidewalk clear.
The special meeting only saw four of the seven members of Council present, meeting the requirement of a quorum. Concern over enough members being present was raised on Tuesday by various individuals. The concern was that a majority of voting members be present not just members. However, Texas Government Code 418.1102 establishes a quorum based on simple majority of the governing body being present, and does not specify regularly voting members. The Mayor can vote but only in the case of a tie, but does count towards establishing a quorum.
Council will meet again on August 2.