Highlights from the City Council Meeting
Paige Hadden from the BRADD office was on hand to talk about Strategic Plans updates. Photo | PJ Martin
By PJ Martin
Editor
The Herald-News
The Edmonton City Council met in regular session on Monday, March 2nd, at the Edmonton City Hall. Those in attendance were Mayor Doug Smith, Councilmembers Teresa Hamlett, Curt Estes, Cathy Nunn, Faye Word, Tommy England, and City Attorney Brian Pack.
Others in attendance were City Clerk/Administrator Dawn Devore, Public Works Superintendent Moe Hensley, Police Chief David Robertson, ABC Administrator Fred Ray, Park & Recreation Director Brian Garrett, and for the Herald-News PJ Martin.
Two of the regular attendees were absent: 911 Director Jordan Crump and Edmonton Fire Chief Jerry Clemmons.
The mayor opened the meeting, “Myself and this council would like to extend condolences to Fred Ray and his family at this time.”
He then declared a quorum present, and the minutes from the February 2nd meeting were approved after motions by Beard and Estes.
He then introduced Paige Hadden from The Barren River Area Development District (BRADD).
Hadden began, “I’m the Public Administration Specialist. We are joining you all today to spread the word and the update of your county strategic plan. BRADD is partnering with counties and cities across the region to refresh their existing strategic plans, not willing to start over, but just to ensure current goals are still relevant. Data is up to date, action steps to reflect today’s community needs, and funding opportunities. As part of this effort, we’ll also be updating our regional Hazard Mitigation Plan.”
“At the conclusion of this process, you will be asked to consider two resolutions. The first will be to approve the updated county strategic plan, and the second will be to adopt the regional hazard mitigation plan.”
Hadden then supplied a flyer with information to the council members.
Next, Smith stated that Chris Huffman and Johnny London with the Fair Board had asked to be put on the agenda, but Huffman notified that he was unable to attend. They asked to be put on the next agenda, and that motion was made and approved.
The second reading of Ordinance # 2025-26-08 amending Ordinance #2016-17-02, the City of Edmonton Alcohol Beverage Control Ordinance. “Just updates from the American Legal Publishing on typos and some things that needed to be adjusted,” Devore explained.
After motions were made by Estes and Nunn, the ordinance was approved.
Public Work Supt. Moe Hensley presented the water, sewer, and gas department report. “We sent some gas operators to some training in Cave City. Filled the odor tanks…We installed a new dome behind the Randolph store. What those do is we can tell how much water is going in what direction, and I plan on putting some more of them in that way. We can kind of get a hold of a water loss. We can control water loss. We can see where it’s all going… And then we ended up buying a new bucket truck through South Central…”
Nunn asked Hensley, “The blue, the yellow, the orange flags, what are they?… I had somebody asking me.”
He explained that blue is water, yellow is gas, green is sewer, red is electric, and orange is phone lines.
Next, Police Chief Robertson presented the department’s February activity report as: 17 arrests, 7 alarms, 2 animal complaints, 6 domestic violence (because of ice and snowed in), 1 incomplete 911 calls, 2 new investigations opened, 3 motorist assists, 5 medical calls, 47 traffic stops, 7 warrants, 2escort, there were 38 complaints and 15 citations written. The department patrolled 3,103 miles.
Fred Ray presented the ABC report stating that everyone is in compliance.
Park Director Brian Garrett presented his report as “We replaced 17 streetlights…one employee got pesticide training…another employee got pesticide training and recertification. We put out over a ton of condition on the fields, getting them ready for play practice, starts next week on them.”
Edmonton Fire Chief Jerry Clemmons was absent, but the December and January reports were available. December had 14 medical runs, 1 fire (heater), and 1 lift assist for a total of 16 runs. January had 8 medical runs, 4 lift assists, and 1 alarm for a total of 13 runs.
City Attorney Brian Pack asked the mayor about appointments to the Ethics Board and he replied, “I have appointed Jamie Miller, Jamie Allen, and Kathy Jessie to the ethics board, and just need your approval on my appointments.”
The appointments were approved.
There was no other business, and the meeting was adjourned.
