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The Magee Board of Aldermen met on Tuesday, November 21, 2023, for a regularly scheduled meeting. After opening the meeting in prayer and with the Pledge of Allegiance, the agenda and the minutes for the previous board meeting were approved.
Brett Duncan of Prince CPA reported that at this point in the budget year, 15.69% of the budget has been spent. He explained to the board that it is too early to do much budget comparison, which they can expect by the end of January.
Duncan also told the board that $500,000 from HB605 has been received, and the city’s new time clock should be installed next week.
The claims docket was approved.
Public Works Superintendent Tim Bray requested an executive session to discuss hiring an employee.
Police Chief Shane Little also requested an executive session for personnel matters and told the board that he has staff addressing street sign issues and will be working with Bray to get missing signs replaced.
Zoning Administrator Penny Aguirre explained that following the November 14 zoning hearing, the zoning commission recommends rezoning Morgan Lewis’s property (415 3rd SE) from R1 to RI. The property in question is located behind the city’s tennis courts.
The property will not be recognized as RI until buffers have been built.
The board approved the commission’s recommendation.
Jimmy Zila of Parks and Recreation explained that a fence had been damaged by the previous night’s storms and several signs had come down.
“Seems like it was some kind of rotation,” he said.
He told the board that Ural Everett Park is “all lit up.”
In addition, Zila reported that every weekend from February 17 until June 19 has been booked for tournaments.
In regards to irrigation at the Sportsplex, Zila informed the board he is getting a new quote for moving the fire hydrant to a safer place and working to have water supplied to the first two fields.
Animal Control Officer Benny Blair reported that between November 1 and November 20, he had picked up seven dogs, had four surrendered, and returned 5 to their owners.
He has also had several calls about dogs at 322 2nd Avenue.
“Someone is gonna get hurt,” he said. “One more call on these dogs, and I’m going to request a pick-up order.”
He informed the board he plans to issue the owner a citation.
After telling the board that six more dogs had been dumped in Eastside that day, Blair requested the board consider moving the pound to McNair Springs or make improvements to the current location. The board told him to get prices for their consideration.
Building Inspector Kara Lucas reminded the board of several businesses that hope to be opening in the coming months, including Newk’s, Champagne Taste, Star Food Mart, a sporting goods store in the old Co-Op building, and NAPA in the old Sears building.
Lucas presented the board with quotes for three new workstations with filing cabinets and a new ADA counter for City Hall. The bid was a state contract so didn’t require two bids.
The board voted to go forward with low bids for work on the Community House.
Chief Fire Marshal Charlie Valadie informed the board the burn ban has been lifted and said, “Fireworks should not be affected.”
The board entered executive session.
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