July 21, 2026 transcript
City Council · Regular session · Supplied transcript
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7:59 · Larry Eaton (unverified label)
Let's get this meeting in order. At this time. Please take take your phones and put them on vibrate. If you gotta if you gotta receive if you receive a phone call, please take it outside. This time, Councilman Sherlin will do the invocation.
8:14 · Steve Sherlin (unverified label)
I would pray. Our Father, we're grateful for this day that you have provided. Each day is a glory unto itself. We thank you for the many provisions you give to us each and every day. Thank you for the protection that you provide, and Father, we would pray for our troops who are overseas in battle tonight that you might keep them safe. We pray, Father, for this meeting as we gather to do the business of the city, that you would guide us to make the appropriate decisions, to keep our hearts and minds clear, that we would do as you would have us, in Christ's name,
8:53 · Perry McCowan (unverified label)
Amen. Amen. Attention, salute, pledge. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
9:23 · Larry Eaton (unverified label)
Miss Missy, roll call, please.
9:25 · Missy White (unverified label)
Councilmember McCowan
9:27 · Perry McCowan (unverified label)
here.
9:28 · Missy White (unverified label)
Councilmember Dugan here. Councilmember Sherlin
9:33 · Steve Sherlin (unverified label)
here.
9:34 · Missy White (unverified label)
Vice Mayor Curtis here. Mayor Eaton present.
9:40 · Larry Eaton (unverified label)
Okay, we'll go on line item to approve the minutes of the last meeting. Do I hear a motion? Hear a second. Motion being made, second. Any discussions? If not, roll call.
9:55 · Missy White (unverified label)
Councilmember McCowan. Yes. Councilmember Dugan. Aye. Councilmember Sherlin
10:02 · Steve Sherlin (unverified label)
aye.
10:03 · Missy White (unverified label)
Vice Mayor Curtis, aye. Mayor Eaton,
10:06 · Larry Eaton (unverified label)
aye. Next is communication special presentations. Before we we get on these, there's one thing that I want the city manager to do. There's a few things that she she needs to address to the the public and the council. Please.
10:21 · Bridget Roberts (unverified label)
Well, the first item is my new executive assistant here, Missy White. I want to introduce her. She started last week and she's doing a great job. So I'd like to welcome her to the city. Second, we will have a groundbreaking ceremony for our new fire station on August the 11th at 130 p.m. So if you'd like to join, everyone's welcome. It'll be at the 300 Elizabeth Street. But 130 on August the 11th, if you'd like to attend our Fire Station Number Three groundbreaking ceremony. So that's all that I have. I
10:55 · Larry Eaton (unverified label)
appreciate you very much. Okay, next on the agenda is Miss Shepard. If you'll take the podium, please. I'll let mr. Canton. Yes.
11:13 · Austin Sauerbry (unverified label)
Hello.
11:14 · Perry McCowan (unverified label)
Hello.
11:15 · Austin Sauerbry (unverified label)
Just wanted to make sure it
11:22 · Freddy Schultz (unverified label)
worked. I'm a little old, but I'm stiff. So I'd like to introduce us. We are Patriot Memorial Project. To my right is my daughter-in-law, Jennifer Lesperant Shepard. This is my daughter, Monica Shepard Belcher. That is the committee. of Patriot Memorial Project. Thank you,
11:47 · Perry McCowan (unverified label)
thank you.
11:50 · Jennifer Shepard (unverified label)
Thank you for having us and for listening. We are here to present our project that is commonly known as the mural going on Glenn Whiting's wall in downtown Athens, so we wanted to give you a sneak peek of what it's going to look like. The iteration that I have in this presentation is just that-it's-it's an iteration. It's not the final draft just yet, but it's going to be pretty close to what you're going to see today. We're here to ask for your support, and primarily, we'd love to accept a donation from City Council for this project. And also, we need to do things like get a scaffolding permit for the sidewalk, and you know maybe a couple of the the parking spaces roped off. Whatever we need to do, I think it's a permit that we would have to get from from you all. So I appreciate you taking the time to hear our presentation. So who we are? We're a 501 c3 Tennessee nonprofit founded by my father in law Kelly Shepard. The committee consists of the three of us: Monica, myself, and Kelly. Our mission is to honor American America's veterans by creating meaningful public memorials and educational art that preserves history, inspires patriotism, and strengthens our community. That's a little bit of a redundant information. I can send you all this slide deck when I'm done with it. Okay. So currently, you may may or may not know we're working on a project in Inglewood where we are creating and building a Vietnam Veterans Memorial. So what we've accomplished so far is, and we have our our artist here. His name is Chris Ingram, he's done a fantastic job. We've put a nice mural on the side of the police department. It's not it's not completed yet, but it will be very soon. What would you say? A week, two weeks, 10 days, perfect. And then after the mural is completed, we're going to go onto the the ground level, and we have a nice granite headstones that are being installed. Those big concrete planters-it's really going to make that whole area really, really beautiful. And one of our main main goals is to teach our younger generation about some of these stories from the past, these veteran stories, a lot of folks, a lot of kids don't don't get taught this stuff in school, and we think it's really really important that they understand the sacrifice that our veterans have made for us throughout history. Right? You have a question, Larry? No. Okay, so the community impact we had a on what was it called Inglewood
14:48 · Bridget Roberts (unverified label)
June days
14:50 · Jennifer Shepard (unverified label)
June days we had a big community event where we encouraged people to come out and paint help paint the mural so it was a really nice really nice. Brought the community together, got people engaged, people involved, which is what we want. So our Athens project-it's being called McMinn County Answered the Call. It's a mural to honor World War II veterans, and it's going to be an interactive experience. So there's going to be a QR code on the mural that's going to link. I'm working with the McMinn County Historical Society and also the Heritage Living Heritage Museum, and we're gathering all of the data and all the information to compile a few nice pages on on a website that is going to tell the story of McMinn County World War II veterans. We also have some video interviews of World War II veterans that's going to be included, which is really exciting. Okay, the wall honors their service. The stories keep their legacy alive. So, this is what the project is going to look like-a semblance of this. So we all know Iwo Jima. We have the beaches of Normandy, we have the Sherman tank, and then we have the B 17 bomber. So these are all things that were, you know, you see them and and you automatically know World War Two. Any questions, comments? So the the projected completion date is october 1. We want it to be done before Pumpkin Town.
16:50 · Perry McCowan (unverified label)
See, this means a lot to me because my uncle got killed in Normandy, and we still don't know where he's at. This hits me. right here.
17:04 · Jennifer Shepard (unverified label)
Is he? Is he from McMinn County?
17:06 · Perry McCowan (unverified label)
Yeah, yes. He was from Madness.
17:09 · Jennifer Shepard (unverified label)
Yes. He'll be part. You know, kids will be able to walk by if you can picture it. You're going to get a lot of foot traffic. Kids are going to be able to walk by, and every kid knows how to scan a QR code, right? And we're going to really encourage this. They're going to be able to scan the QR code, and they're going to be able to read your uncle's story.
17:35 · John Duggan (unverified label)
Well, you mentioned the the completion date. What what date are you looking at to begin?
17:42 · Jennifer Shepard (unverified label)
As soon. as Chris is done with Inglewood, which we already know is about 10 days. I'm sure he'll want to take a little bit of a rest. Maybe a day. Maybe a day or two.
17:53 · John Duggan (unverified label)
He's yeah.
17:55 · Jennifer Shepard (unverified label)
This this project really hits home for him as well, and he's eager to get started, so it should be. I would say, let's say three weeks from today.
18:08 · Steve Sherlin (unverified label)
What about the upper walls? Are they going to be painted white, or
18:12 · Jennifer Shepard (unverified label)
they're going to be painted 20% gray? So it's not white. It's but they're going to be primed with 20% gray, so everything is going to be primed, ready. This American flag-it's not not entirely true to the building's design, but this American flag is going to wrap around this little part where I think right now it says "fu" on it. That's that's the part that's going to be covered by the sorry. No, no problem. Covered by the American flag. Thank you. Thank you very much. I appreciate that.
18:55 · John Duggan (unverified label)
I was also going to ask. That wall, compared to others, tends to be facing the sun more. Is is it a special kind of paint you might be using?
19:06 · Jennifer Shepard (unverified label)
So there's an an anti graffiti sealer, sealant, right? Coated, yeah.
19:19 · Matt Dunn (unverified label)
Okay.
19:21 · Jennifer Shepard (unverified label)
So I don't know if you all know, but there's a 9/11 mural that's been painted in Inglewood, and it's right there where we're painting ours, and that's just faded and it's chipped. And what we found out is that they they never put any coating on it to protect it. That's
19:37 · John Duggan (unverified label)
why I was wondering, yeah. Yeah.
19:39 · Austin Sauerbry (unverified label)
So what we're doing with our project in Inglewood, and what we'll do with any of our projects is make sure that that clear coating, the sealant-it's called anti-graffiti. I think Sherwin Williams calls it that, but we'll make sure that that's a part of every mural that we do for sure. And what Chris is also doing in Inglewood is he's going to touch up that 911 with with the. Permission of Bill McDonald, who I I spoke to, he's going to touch that 911 mural up a little bit, and then we're going to put the proper seal coating on.
20:09 · Steve Sherlin (unverified label)
That's great. And what's the cost going to be for this?
20:12 · Jennifer Shepard (unverified label)
$34,125.
20:19 · Steve Sherlin (unverified label)
So you're taking donations to cover the
20:21 · Jennifer Shepard (unverified label)
cost. We are taking donations. This is all. We're a nonprofit, so this is all community funded, and and hopefully we have funding from this as
20:33 · Larry Eaton (unverified label)
well. Also, I talked to gentlemen and and the and the public. I talked to a gentleman, gentlemen, gentlemen, and I thought the public needs to know this too. You're a 501 C, and that could help you out on taxes too for private donations.
20:52 · Jennifer Shepard (unverified label)
For sure, that tax incentive is a big deal. Okay, so how is this going to impact Athens? You know, we don't really know, but what I suspect is we're going to be turning downtown Athens into a destination. People are no longer going to drive or walk past that wall and say, "What in the world is this town? What is going on? It's going to be a a beautiful Memorial mural honoring our veterans, right? So we can encourage school classrooms to bring their their classes by school field trips, history enthusiasts, a lot of veteran organizations. You you guys probably know veterans stick together, so there's going to be a lot of traffic from from vet organizations, my motorcycle groups. I don't know why that one's in there, but American Legion, VFW, Heritage Tourism, and with with all of these people coming to look at this mural, it's going to encourage people to spend money downtown, which is which is needed, right? So, and also people people take pictures in front of murals, especially these younger generation kids, right? They're going to see this mural. My son, five years old, loves the tank. He he's obsessed with that B-17. We're going to be taking many photos in front of this mural. I'm sure you all have kids or grandkids. You can relate to that. So, just in general, having public art creates value. There's going to be a revitalization in downtown. There is going to be private investment. I've heard from many community leaders that the wall, as it currently stands, is hindering a lot of, maybe not a lot, but it's it's hindering growth. It's hindering businesses from coming in and privately investing. You're going to get the foot traffic, the business growth, community pride. That's what it's all about, right? And again, the motorcycle groups. I don't know why I put that in there, but media attention as well. So I don't know if you all know, but we we went on to local three channel news to introduce our nonprofit, and we have a good relationship with those folks. I'm sure they're going to love the opportunity to come out and and give some some media attention around this. And most importantly, this mural is going to become a marketing asset for the city, and it's going to look really good for the city council. So here's the partnership opportunity. We're asking for you folks to contribute financially, any in-kind support, any kind of promotion, tourism collaboration, educational partnerships. We're here for it. We're we're ready to accept your donations and and your support. And why this matters? Just our underlying goal, right? Is we have one generation that fought for our freedom. The next generation deserves to know their stories. And if we don't preserve our history, we we risk losing it forever. This is all of our 501c3 information, our Venmo. Anybody can feel free to scan that and donate. And that's it. That's the end of my slideshow. Do you have any questions?
24:33 · Perry McCowan (unverified label)
Albert, thank you. You're welcome. You're welcome. Wonderful.
24:39 · Bridget Roberts (unverified label)
Giving us this opportunity to present. Yeah.
24:42 · Jennifer Shepard (unverified label)
So I have just a couple other questions. So if you decide to donate, does this mean that you have to cycle through to another meeting, or what does that look like exactly,
24:55 · Larry Eaton (unverified label)
gentlemen? I think what we need to do is there may be a. Way to look at something and have the city manager and city attorney look at some things through the through instead of the tax the the citizens taxes. We've got the hotel motel
25:15 · Perry McCowan (unverified label)
the hotel motel yeah that
25:16 · Larry Eaton (unverified label)
we can look at. So we'll have to look with the city attorney to see what can come up with that? So I think that's probably maybe the best thing to
25:28 · Perry McCowan (unverified label)
do.
25:30 · Larry Eaton (unverified label)
If that's okay, they'll let city manager and the city attorney look into that.
25:33 · Bridget Roberts (unverified label)
We can look into it. I
25:36 · Larry Eaton (unverified label)
think that would be a great thing.
25:38 · Jennifer Shepard (unverified label)
Okay, perfect. So when do you think we can have a decision or a response?
25:45 · Steve Sherlin (unverified label)
Well, you you're going to try to finish this. When are you going to start on it?
25:53 · Jennifer Shepard (unverified label)
Three weeks.
25:56 · Steve Sherlin (unverified label)
Okay.
25:58 · John Duggan (unverified label)
You can always
26:00 · Perry McCowan (unverified label)
do need to take a
26:01 · Austin Sauerbry (unverified label)
first weekend of August. We can call a special. We can call a special. We always do a special guy if
26:05 · Larry Eaton (unverified label)
we find something out. Let's do it.
26:08 · Perry McCowan (unverified label)
Yeah, we do a special. I was raised that Friday. Later
26:12 · Jennifer Shepard (unverified label)
than August.
26:14 · Larry Eaton (unverified label)
Yes, sir. Yes, sir. Yeah, you you could.
26:41 · Jennifer Shepard (unverified label)
Good point, Father-in-law. All right, thank you, folks, for your time. Appreciate it. Thank you. Thank you. Okay,
26:56 · Larry Eaton (unverified label)
the next one is Freddie Schultz' presentation of the Chiefs' award. Chief Schultz.
27:09 · Freddy Schultz (unverified label)
Good evening, Council. Thanks for this opportunity. Let me put my maturity glasses on. As you know, on July the eighth, we recognized 11 students from the high school and Athens City Schools for their exceptional citizenship, character, and their compassion. Now we we put this thing together like in the spring, so it came together pretty quick, and these nominations were made by our SROs with the help of the school staffs, and of course the big thing came down. Well, what's the criteria? And so, to me, I didn't care about social status, didn't care about grades, didn't care about athletics. I told him, I said, I want you to look for those kids that are respectful to you, that are respectful to the staff, and are respectful to each other. I want the kids that if they see something that needs to be done, they do it. They volunteer, and then when you find those kids, I want you to go to the lunchroom, and I want you to watch for the kids that when they look at somebody's plate, they are looking to see if they need more, instead of looking to see if they have more than they do, and that was deciding factor. And I think they nailed it. We had 13 kids, and one of them will have to do in August. But so tonight, we have the privilege to honor Miss Povy Carter. Come on up. was nominated by her SRO, Sergeant Tony Byers, from the middle school. Tony describes her as a well-rounded student who inspires others by her actions. He shared that she has a special gift for welcoming new students, helping them feel comfortable and accepted in an unfamiliar environment. Through her actions, she reminds us that kindness has no boundaries. It's a choice we make every day. Povy, your kindness, your leadership, and your willingness to lift others up set a powerful example for all of us, and we are proud to honor you,
29:50 · Larry Eaton (unverified label)
Chief and Miss Carter. If you guys will stay right there for a second, we want a picture. Miss Carter, thank you very much. Future leaders of America, right there.
30:17 · Perry McCowan (unverified label)
Amen.
30:19 · Larry Eaton (unverified label)
Next one's Matt Chenard.
30:32 · Matt Chenard (unverified label)
Good evening, Mayor and Council. I just wanted to provide you a recap of our Fourth of July event that we had at Athens Regional Park a few weeks ago. Obviously, this was a very special event, given that this was the 250th anniversary of our nation, and we gave our citizens a myriad of activities to enjoy throughout the afternoon and an evening leading up to the drone and fireworks show. The free arcade to the conference center was a huge success, as there were hundreds of people that came and went, and were able to escape the heat for a little while. It was a really hot day. The concert on the soccer field, which was a Sounds of Summer event with the band Mending Wall, was also successful. As we had tons of people asking where the concert was at while we were doing our radio show up at the fields and concession stand. Speaking of our concession stand, we made $2,224 in a three-hour time span, and that was a fast and furious operation. At 915, we started to turn off all the lights, and at 930, it was time for the show. The drone performance was timed perfectly, and that led seamlessly into the fireworks show, which is impressive as always. Overall, there is an estimated seven to 8000 people in the park watching the show, and over 15,000 in the surrounding parking lots within a mile. That included the Walmart parking lot, big lots, Dunham's, etc. There were so many departments that were involved in this, and I want to take the time to thank them for their expertise and keeping everyone safe when such a large-scale event happens within our city. Another thing that happened on the Fourth of July was we buried a time capsule. If you didn't know that, we buried a time capsule in between fields two and three with documents that were given to us from our nation's representatives, our state representatives, our city leaderships, multiple departments, lots of our Athens staples, and those are buried in a time capsule. We are going to have a plaque put over that here in the next few weeks, so that I can commemorate that, and so it will be opened on july 4, 2126. Before I go on to our next thing, I want to take the time and thank our sponsors of the America 250 Drone Show and Buddy Liner Memorial Firework Show, the City of Athens, McMahon County, Denso, Friendly City Festivals, Casino Party Experts, and then there are also sponsors that were obtained by working with the Liner family, and those include Old National Bank, First Horizon Bank, Citizens National Bank, State Representative Mark Cochran, Madison Avenue Pharmacy, A and J Body Shop, Hawasi Builder Supply, Athens Insurance, and East Tennessee Auto Outlet. And the last thing I was going to do for the upcoming event is we've got some exciting news we want to announce to you tonight. Sounds of Summer will be hosting the band Confederate Railroad at Athens Regional Park on Saturday, august 15 at 7o'clock p.m. This is yet another amazing opportunity to host a large-scale concert at Athens Regional Park, and I hope that you can come and and out and enjoy the show again that Saturday, august 15 at 7o'clock p.m. we hope to see y'all out there. There will be more info to come on that. Thank y'all.
34:08 · Perry McCowan (unverified label)
Thank you, Matt. You. Thank you. Thank you. I
34:16 · Larry Eaton (unverified label)
do want to say thank you to to everyone in the city that worked the the the fireworks and all the donations. It was one of the most remarkable shows that we've ever had, and hope we can top it next year. But saying that, we're going into citizens' comments remain to the agenda. There is only one mr. Whiting, please. To
34:46 · Glen Whitey (unverified label)
start my speech, I actually want to say thank you for the mayor for letting Jennifer know that he would definitely be a guest on the podcast. I look forward to that, and I would hope that each one of you would agree to be a member, and there'd be very cordial. Be hard questions, hard answers, but I look forward to having that opportunity, and that's why we're changing the walls. We are going to do podcast, and so look forward to change. What I'm here to talk about, though, is you have in the there where you're going to be signing a letter for Randy, and when you all fired him, I was informed that it was serious and it needed to happen right away. I've asked so many people what that means to them, without exception, in over 25, 30 people, not a single person didn't come up with the same two answers. They said he either committed fraud and stole money, or he did something sexually wrong within the city that was unacceptable. Those are terrible things to have stuck to your name, and so when you say you can't talk about it, what you're doing is putting a stigma on a person that can't get past. If Randy did something so bad, I have to raise the question: Why did you pay him? Why are you signing a letter tonight recommending him? If he did one of those two things, we shouldn't even be thinking about it. We should be saying no. I'm going to be a little bold here because I think I know why. Some of what I've been reading since then, and some of the information I've been supplied with, was Randy was concerned about some of the things that he had been saying. One of which was the money that had been being paid into the foundation that was created by Mike Keith and Austin Fesmire. For years, we've been paying into this foundation, and my understanding is even there, there were some letters where either the Parks and the Rec or Randy himself had requested that they help pay for the fireworks, kids at ball games, soapbox derby, and they were denied. So the question comes in: Why are we filtering money to a foundation that's called Parks and Recs, but we're not going to help the Parks and Recs. Why are we sending that money and taking it now? Some of it's being filtered through the sister city. The money goes into the sister city, and then that goes to the Parks and Recs, and there's still no accountability. That's wrong. And so the problem is we've used it. We are firing him because he stood up for us. Now I've had plenty of disputes about Randy, and I have no problem speaking out where I think he's wrong, and I have done that. In fact, the night he was fired, I gave good reasons why he should be fired, and in what some of what he's done. But that being said, if you're going to fire him, you fire them for the right reason, and you speak about it. You be open about it. Did Randy bring up questions why the hospital, Mayfield's, the housing department are getting special treatment on the garbage rates? Why is that? They make lots of money. Why are we giving them special treatment? If he stood up as a manager and did his job. Thank you. And I can dispute him on all kinds of stuff, but the fact is, what I've seen and read from getting here since shows that he is doing his was doing his job. Now maybe you have cause. I don't know. We all said we can't know, but I'm telling you, when you tell us we can't know, you've put a stigma saying those two things. That's all anybody came up with. With the new city manager, if we're not going to deal with it honestly, then we need to get a city manager that is willing to not ask questions, don't question, do what they're told to do, and don't be a manager. Just be a follower, because if they're leader, you're going to fire them and destroy their life, same as you've done to so many people before. The same way this city has been trying to do to my family for eight years. If you cannot say why you fired him, at the very least, you need to at least put into this letter that you're signing, and say these are things he did not do. At least clear him of what he did not do. Now, if he did something like that, rip that letter up. You should not be giving it to him,
39:15 · Larry Eaton (unverified label)
mr. Whiting.
39:17 · Perry McCowan (unverified label)
Appreciate you.
39:25 · Larry Eaton (unverified label)
That was the last. That's the only one that's remaining to the agenda. But I will say one thing: I talked to the city attorney and the city manager on this. mr. Downey did not misappropriate funds. I will tell you that, and he did not have any any personal relationships with anyone, so I can honestly say that in the front of everybody, and we'll say that that is that is false rumors, and that needs to be stopped. So I will say that, but that's that's far as I'll go on that. But anyway, going to consent agenda, and gentlemen, on line item F, I've explained. There was a wording was for the amount not to exceed that has to be stricken. It's supposed to be for estimated amount. Okay, so that's the only thing in the consent agenda that that there was the wording was wrong. So I just wanted to make sure that's clarified before the the consent agenda is read, so Miss Missy,
40:33 · Missy White (unverified label)
item A, approve resolution 2026 19, a resolution authorizing the City of Athens, Tennessee, to participate in the 2026-2027 Judy Housley Safety Partners Matching Grant Program through Public Entity Partners. Item B, Award Bid 26-04 to Wilson Construction Group LLC for View Street roadway improvements and North Jackson Street repairs project bid amount $571,954.55. Item C, approved professional services agreement with Kimley Horn and Associates to update the park's master plan in the amount of $87,950 and authorize an additional $4,500 for reimbursable expenses if needed. Item D, approve professional services agreement with Kimley Horn and Associates for the design and bidding services for the additional parking and lighting improvements at Cook Park in the amount of $41,500. Item E, approve professional services agreement with Kimley Horn and Associates for Engineering and Design Services for the Lee Irwin Road and Decatur Pike intersection improvements in the amount of $294,300. Item F: Approve the proposal for construction materials testing and special inspection services submitted by UES Professional Solutions 18 LLC for the construction of Fire Station Number Three, in the estimated amount of $48,475. Item G: Approved purchase of new municipal court case management software from Tyler Technologies in the amount of $41,480. Item H: Approved purchase of police vehicles and revised pricing for animal control trucks from Ford of Murfreesboro in total amount of $237,670. Item I approve purchase and installation of equipment for police vehicles from Truckers Lighthouse LLC in total amount of $81,465.25. Item J declare the 2008 Ford Expedition Asset Number 3704 as surplus property and authorize it to be sold on Gov deals. Item K approve the City of Athens to participate as a plaintiff in the fire equipment antitrust litigation class action lawsuit and execute the employment and contingency agreement.
43:51 · Larry Eaton (unverified label)
Gentlemen, what's the what's the motion? Can you on the four estimate amount also?
44:01 · Jordan Curtis (unverified label)
Yep, with with you know as read on on F an estimated amount which replaces amount not to exceed which is written on the agenda.
44:09 · Larry Eaton (unverified label)
Hey thank you, sir. Do I hear a second? A
44:11 · Perry McCowan (unverified label)
second.
44:13 · Larry Eaton (unverified label)
Any discussions, gentlemen? If not, roll call.
44:18 · Missy White (unverified label)
Councilmember McCowan.
44:20 · Perry McCowan (unverified label)
Aye.
44:21 · Missy White (unverified label)
Councilmember Dugan. Aye, Council Member Sherland.
44:25 · Perry McCowan (unverified label)
Aye,
44:26 · Missy White (unverified label)
Vice Mayor Curtis. Aye, Mayor Eaton.
44:30 · Larry Eaton (unverified label)
Aye. Okay, we're going ordinances. There's no ordinances this time, and there's no old business, so we're going to new business. Section A, please, Miss Missy.
44:40 · Missy White (unverified label)
Item A, Resolution 2026 18, a resolution declaring the intent of the City of Athens, Tennessee, to reimburse itself for certain expenditures in the aggregate principal amount of not to exceed $15 million. Relating to municipal projects of the city and the Athens Utilities Board, with the proceeds of bonds or other debt obligations to be issued by the City of Athens, Tennessee.
45:13 · Larry Eaton (unverified label)
A second. A second. Any discussions?
45:18 · Steve Sherlin (unverified label)
I just want to point out that this 15 million is not what we agreed to in work session. We agreed to 12 million, and I asked the question of the city manager about this. She gave an answer, which I understand, but this is not what we agreed to.
45:42 · Larry Eaton (unverified label)
Gentlemen, any other discussion?
45:44 · John Duggan (unverified label)
Can we have the explanation of the answer instead of it being mysterious?
45:51 · Bridget Roberts (unverified label)
Sure, sure. And Mike may want to add some items, but basically, after the work session, Athens Utilities Board had communicated with John Werner that presented at the work session from Cumberland Securities regarding the additional utility projects that he wanted included in the reimbursement resolution, so we just combined the two into one resolution, and based on those discussions, that's where the $15 million came from from the 6 million that was originally inserted in the resolution.
46:20 · Steve Sherlin (unverified label)
So is the portion for AUB if they were to have to borrow money, they would pay that money, correct? City wouldn't pay it. Okay.
46:37 · Larry Eaton (unverified label)
Any other discussions, gentlemen?
46:49 · Speaker 1 (unverified label)
And they would there'd have to be separate approval of that debt and everything, so that all this does is give the city or AUB the ability to borrow money and reimburse itself for projects 60 days prior to this evening, if if it passes tonight, and then it's 18 months in the future. And in the event that, as we talked about, if we need to borrow the money to reimburse ourselves, we can, and that's what they would do. They came back. It was originally the 6 million is what they asked for. They asked for an additional 3 million for I forget either water or sewer. It was a separate separate division. So it's two different
47:35 · Larry Eaton (unverified label)
sewage, and one of them was the water tower.
47:37 · Speaker 1 (unverified label)
Yes, and so sewer I think was the 3 million that was added on, but it's two different divisions.
47:46 · Larry Eaton (unverified label)
Thank you, sir. Thank
47:47 · Bridget Roberts (unverified label)
you, Mike.
47:48 · Larry Eaton (unverified label)
Any other discussions? Roll call. Councilmember
47:52 · Missy White (unverified label)
McCowan,
47:53 · Perry McCowan (unverified label)
aye.
47:55 · Missy White (unverified label)
Councilmember Duken, aye. Councilmember Sherwin,
47:58 · Steve Sherlin (unverified label)
no.
48:00 · Missy White (unverified label)
Vice Mayor Curtis, aye. Mayor Eaton,
48:03 · Perry McCowan (unverified label)
aye.
48:08 · Larry Eaton (unverified label)
On item B.
48:09 · Missy White (unverified label)
Item B, funding T dot entrance improvement, Congress Parkway and Lee Drive.
48:16 · Larry Eaton (unverified label)
Gentlemen, there a motion.
48:21 · Steve Sherlin (unverified label)
Make a motion. I'd like for that to be openly explained what funding is.
48:28 · Larry Eaton (unverified label)
We got a motion on the floor first. Do you want to rescind your motion for the explanation?
48:35 · Perry McCowan (unverified label)
Oh, I thought we were
48:36 · John Duggan (unverified label)
after the motion.
48:37 · Steve Sherlin (unverified label)
Mayor, I thought we were in discussion. I'm sorry.
48:41 · Larry Eaton (unverified label)
Okay. Did I hear a second? Aye. Motion been made and second. Now discussions. Go ahead.
48:49 · Steve Sherlin (unverified label)
I'd just like to have that the funding explained. Share it.
48:55 · Larry Eaton (unverified label)
Can you explain?
48:57 · Bridget Roberts (unverified label)
Well, the the development group that will be building the housing back on Lee Drive requested that the median from Lee Drive onto Highway 11, Congress Parkway, be improved because right now it's slightly off kilter from the drive to cross over to the road, so right now when you're coming, I guess when you're going northbound, crossing over, you're kind of going against traffic, so it's kind of dangerous. So they just wanted that slightly improved, so it's even with Lee Drive. They've offered to pay at least half of the cost to make these improvements. They've reached out to Tdot, got the initial approval from Bam. Just looking for us to fund the other half,
49:46 · Steve Sherlin (unverified label)
and that other half is in the amount of
49:49 · Bridget Roberts (unverified label)
is approximately $100,000.
49:51 · Steve Sherlin (unverified label)
Okay, that's that's all I wanted.
49:55 · Larry Eaton (unverified label)
If if if you see at Lee Drive, it's it's really all kilter, and there was. There's been a few wrecks there, and and there's going to be roughly being over 60 to 70 homes being Birchville. There's 60, 70 homes that's going to be built back there on Lee Drive, and right now the way that it's designed, it's it's it's hard to turn in and out, and you have to do U-turns and everything else. So the developer has asked cost sharing. So basically, they're going to be paying half of the cost to help the city out. So it's it's a it's a win for the city. So that's that's what it is. Any other discussions? Roll call.
50:40 · Missy White (unverified label)
Councilmember McCowan.
50:42 · Perry McCowan (unverified label)
Aye.
50:43 · Missy White (unverified label)
Council Member Dugan,
50:44 · John Duggan (unverified label)
aye.
50:45 · Missy White (unverified label)
Council Member Sherland,
50:47 · Perry McCowan (unverified label)
aye.
50:48 · Missy White (unverified label)
Vice Mayor Curtis,
50:50 · Perry McCowan (unverified label)
aye.
50:51 · Missy White (unverified label)
Mayor
50:51 · Larry Eaton (unverified label)
Eaton, aye. I'm C.
50:56 · Missy White (unverified label)
First reading of an ordinance 1159 to amend Title One, Chapter One-Two of the Athens City Code, by adding Section One-46, establishing compensation for the mayor and council members pursuant to Article Five, Section Four of the Charter of the City of Athens, Tennessee.
51:19 · Larry Eaton (unverified label)
Hear a hear a motion. So move. Here a second. Aye.
51:26 · Steve Sherlin (unverified label)
Motion be made and second. Councilman Sherwin, you got the four. I'd like to make an amendment to the motion. This was supposed to include when I read the ordinance. We agreed in work session upon what should be in this ordinance, and the amounts are there. But we all we also agreed that the charter had in the charter had specified that the council would receive annual cola raises in alignment with employee cola raises, and so that was supposed to be added to this ordinance, And I don't see it, so I make the my motion is to add the cola raises, the annual
52:30 · Larry Eaton (unverified label)
coal raises that align with employees to this ordinance. So the ordinance In itself, with the ordinance itself being adopted, plus with the the the pay raises.
52:50 · John Duggan (unverified label)
Doesn't number three take care of that?
52:52 · Bridget Roberts (unverified label)
Well, let me clarify. So the old charter did, in fact, specify that when we amended the charter, it took that language away. So now it simply says no compensation changes shall be made during your term, and COLA is considered a compensation change. So that was my concern that I had mentioned before. So I reached out to the attorney, and and Matt Dunn is here if he wants to go into more Explanation on why that was a concern.
53:26 · Matt Dunn (unverified label)
I could read. I could just read what the charter currently says. It says the compensation of the mayor and the council members shall be established from time to time by ordinance duly adopted by the city council, subject to any limitations imposed by Tennessee law. No change in compensation shall take effect during the term for which the mayor or any council member was elected. However, such changes may take effect for subsequent terms of office. Prior to this amendment to the charter, the previous did establish a set rate that said that the salary of mayor shall be set at $250 per month, and the salary of councilperson shall be $200 per month, and further that the monthly salaries be adjusted annually at the same percentage rate as given to the full-time employees of the city. So that was under the previous charter that did allow for those changes, and so you have in a situation where you have a previous stating and allowing that, and then the new terms of the charter are fairly are very explicit in what they do permit. I mean, the new charter gives right; it allows you to do in the ordinance and to make adjustments, which the old did not. But what it takes away is it takes away the the ability to just have it up. And so, yes, when Adams City Manager reached out to me, I looked at that, and per my rating of that, those those changes and COLA is compensation cannot occur during the term.
54:56 · Steve Sherlin (unverified label)
Buddy, excuse me, I'm trouble with my voice. Lately, but it could be placed in there with the terminology of a cola would take place, but not under the current term.
55:19 · Matt Dunn (unverified label)
Right. However, you want to, however you care to characterize it, whether across the board, pay increase, cola, or things like that. I mean, I don't think it speaks to how that getting raised. It's just saying that council members cannot be increasing that during their term of office,
55:40 · Bridget Roberts (unverified label)
which could complicate things if you were to add that language, because it could be depending on the timing, it could be two years before you actually would see if there were two colas during that time. So it could get complicated to keep track of that. Whereas if you just simply change the amount, because you can do that now by ordinance for the next term, that would be it. Adjust the cost
56:02 · John Duggan (unverified label)
of living, is what you're trying to say. I mean, yeah,
56:04 · Bridget Roberts (unverified label)
yeah. Look at it that way. It can
56:06 · John Duggan (unverified label)
preemptively adjust the cost every two years for the next term of people.
56:11 · Steve Sherlin (unverified label)
Well, I understand. I think what happened was in all of the preparation of sending it to the legislature that was left out. It shouldn't have been left out, but it was. So it is what it is. So I withdraw the motion, the amendment.
56:37 · Larry Eaton (unverified label)
There was no, there was no second to the amendment. You you
56:40 · Steve Sherlin (unverified label)
second it.
56:40 · Larry Eaton (unverified label)
No, you second the motion. You you
56:43 · Perry McCowan (unverified label)
second the motion.
56:44 · Larry Eaton (unverified label)
You you put it on. You put the amendment in
56:46 · Steve Sherlin (unverified label)
the. Okay. I'm lost. Okay.
56:50 · Larry Eaton (unverified label)
So so I tell you what. If you withdraw your motion, then make
56:54 · Steve Sherlin (unverified label)
it. I withdraw.
56:57 · Perry McCowan (unverified label)
Yeah.
56:57 · Larry Eaton (unverified label)
Okay. So you you withdraw your motion now. We need to make a motion. That motion was thrown. So now we want to make a motion. Anybody want to make a motion on this ordinance?
57:08 · Bridget Roberts (unverified label)
I do want to notice. Make note real quick on section four, under the section one of the ordinance, there was a slight wording change since work session. Nothing major, just a little clarification, but that last sentence of section four was updated per the city attorney's advice. You all have a copy of that in front of you, so.
57:33 · Larry Eaton (unverified label)
So, the ordinance that you have in in hand, do I have a motion?
57:39 · John Duggan (unverified label)
Well, I have one more question with the city attorney number three under section one, where it says the compensation established by this section shall be paid in accordance with the city's regular payroll procedure. Wouldn't the COLA be part of that procedure?
57:55 · Matt Dunn (unverified label)
No, I think that's referring to just general accounting practice. Okay, got you.
58:03 · Larry Eaton (unverified label)
Okay, gentlemen, we have we need to make a motion.
58:07 · Jordan Curtis (unverified label)
I move that we adopt our first reading
58:11 · Steve Sherlin (unverified label)
this ordinance as. I've already made that motion. Oh, you did. And Perry seconded it.
58:16 · John Duggan (unverified label)
That was the original. I was the amendment's original,
58:19 · Larry Eaton (unverified label)
but then nobody. There was no. There was a second. No, she stopped before the. There was a motion made. So right now we need to make a motion for this ordinance.
58:30 · Steve Sherlin (unverified label)
Let me correct you. Okay, there was a motion. I made the motion. He seconded. Under discussion, you turned to me and I made an amendment to the motion. The motion was already in play,
58:43 · Larry Eaton (unverified label)
and you you withdrew the amendment. No, no, no, no.
58:47 · Steve Sherlin (unverified label)
I withdrew the amendment, not the motion. Through
58:50 · Larry Eaton (unverified label)
the motion,
58:51 · Steve Sherlin (unverified label)
no.
58:51 · Larry Eaton (unverified label)
And it was clearly stated. I'm
58:53 · Steve Sherlin (unverified label)
sorry, Mayor. I withdrew the amendment.
58:57 · Perry McCowan (unverified label)
Hey, we can just start over.
58:58 · Larry Eaton (unverified label)
There was no discussion. There was no second on the amendment. The only thing I know, the only thing there was no discussion on. There was no second on the amendment. Even Councilman Perry. All for crying out loud!
59:09 · Steve Sherlin (unverified label)
Go ahead and do what you want to do.
59:11 · Larry Eaton (unverified label)
Well, I'm doing it right. No,
59:12 · Steve Sherlin (unverified label)
you're not.
59:13 · Perry McCowan (unverified label)
All right. Well,
59:14 · Larry Eaton (unverified label)
so is there a motion on the tape on this to to adopt the ordinance?
59:20 · Perry McCowan (unverified label)
Is
59:20 · Larry Eaton (unverified label)
there a motion?
59:22 · Steve Sherlin (unverified label)
I move we adopt it.
59:24 · Larry Eaton (unverified label)
Okay. Motion being made. Is there a second?
59:26 · Perry McCowan (unverified label)
Yeah. Second. Yes.
59:28 · Larry Eaton (unverified label)
Motion be made and second. Any words? If not, roll call. Councilmember
59:34 · Missy White (unverified label)
McCowan. Aye. Councilmember
59:39 · John Duggan (unverified label)
Dugan. Abstain.
59:41 · Missy White (unverified label)
Councilmember Sterling.
59:42 · Perry McCowan (unverified label)
Aye.
59:45 · Missy White (unverified label)
Vice Mayor Curtis. Aye. Mayor Eaton.
59:48 · Larry Eaton (unverified label)
Aye. Nay. Three to 231. and one. Okay, it passes exactly. Item D.
1:00:03 · Missy White (unverified label)
First reading item of an ordinance 1160 to amend the zoning ordinance of the City of Athens, Tennessee, so as to amend the official zoning map to rezone the property located off Spruce Street from I dash one light industrial district to R-2 medium density residential.
1:00:26 · Larry Eaton (unverified label)
You hear a motion. Motion be made. Is there a second? Second. Motion be made and second. Any discussions? Not roll call.
1:00:37 · Missy White (unverified label)
Councilmember McCowan.
1:00:38 · Perry McCowan (unverified label)
Aye.
1:00:39 · Missy White (unverified label)
Councilmember Dugan.
1:00:41 · Perry McCowan (unverified label)
Aye.
1:00:42 · Missy White (unverified label)
Council. Member Charlotte, aye. Vice Mayor Curtis,
1:00:46 · Perry McCowan (unverified label)
aye.
1:00:48 · Missy White (unverified label)
Mayor Eaton,
1:00:49 · Larry Eaton (unverified label)
aye. Line item E.
1:00:53 · Missy White (unverified label)
Letter of recommendation for Dr. Randall Dowling.
1:00:59 · Larry Eaton (unverified label)
I hear a motion.
1:01:00 · Jordan Curtis (unverified label)
Move approval of the draft is presented in the paper. presented in the
1:01:03 · Larry Eaton (unverified label)
packet. Near a second, aye. Motion be made and second. Discussions. Not roll call.
1:01:10 · John Duggan (unverified label)
Oh no, a little too speedy.
1:01:13 · Larry Eaton (unverified label)
Well,
1:01:13 · John Duggan (unverified label)
I kind of feel like, especially after comments that were mentioned earlier, and I've had a conversation with mr. Dowling since he's gone. He's had people in public come up here to him and ask those questions that were addressed in the comment section. I either feel like we need to amend this recommendation to show that there is no Wrongdoing, or statement needs to be made within the council itself that there was no wrongdoing concerning those topics that are going to be brought up because it's not going to stop. So
1:02:00 · Larry Eaton (unverified label)
you made a motion amendment to the motion to hear amend
1:02:03 · John Duggan (unverified label)
the letter to either to amend
1:02:05 · Larry Eaton (unverified label)
the letter yeah
1:02:05 · John Duggan (unverified label)
to have a statement concerning addressing those topics.
1:02:14 · Larry Eaton (unverified label)
There a second? I'll second the motion on that. Any discussions? You can.
1:02:20 · John Duggan (unverified label)
I think I pretty much got the point on that one.
1:02:23 · Larry Eaton (unverified label)
Any other discussions? Roll call on the amendment only.
1:02:32 · Missy White (unverified label)
Councilmember McCowan.
1:02:33 · Perry McCowan (unverified label)
This is on the amendment, right?
1:02:35 · John Duggan (unverified label)
Only on the amendment of the letters.
1:02:37 · Perry McCowan (unverified label)
Nay. Okay.
1:02:40 · Missy White (unverified label)
Councilmember Dugan. Aye. Council Member Charlene,
1:02:44 · Steve Sherlin (unverified label)
no.
1:02:46 · Missy White (unverified label)
Vice Mayor Curtis, nay. Mayor Eaton,
1:02:51 · Larry Eaton (unverified label)
absolutely yay.
1:02:54 · Steve Sherlin (unverified label)
I would like to speak to this. You know, this was brought up. It was, I thought, it was ridiculous to begin with, and I did vote for it. I don't know why, but I thought it would be the right thing to do to give him a recommendation that would say, "Okay, this might help him down the road, but I regret voting for this, and I would like to have a. I would like to make a counter motion to rescind this motion, to rescind the motion to give him letter recommendation.
1:03:40 · Larry Eaton (unverified label)
The motion been made. You can vote up or down on this, and and that it will rescind or or pass. So there's no sense of even doing anything like that.
1:03:52 · John Duggan (unverified label)
That's true. If you vote to not do the recommendation, but I like to I like to say that kind of falls in line with how that meeting went, where can't reconcile any differences. Just going to let the public continue to bash a man who's already lost his job, ruin a guy's career. I can't live with that.
1:04:20 · Larry Eaton (unverified label)
Any other discussions?
1:04:23 · Steve Sherlin (unverified label)
I can't support this.
1:04:29 · Larry Eaton (unverified label)
Any other discussions? I'll make one one statement, and I've said it many times. I've asked the city council for an investigation for this for the for the executive meetings we had, I still feel like they were in violation of the sunshine laws. The public needs to know what's going on and why things are happening, and that's the way it ought to be. Period. I don't care if it hurts your feelings or whatever. Tell tell the public we we were elected by the. By the people to stand up for what's right and what's wrong, and when the public doesn't know, and we're keeping everything hush hush, I that's that's in the executive meetings, and I'll take it to my grave. It was a violation of sunshine laws.
1:05:16 · Steve Sherlin (unverified label)
Well, you can take it to your grave, Mayor, but it was not a violation. Why? City council has every right to have executive sessions. We had those sessions. You were in them. Yeah, both of you were. I
1:05:27 · Larry Eaton (unverified label)
walked. I walked out of the second one, and I told Miss Codwell, our city attorney, I will not be part of a of a violation of sunshine laws. You were in
1:05:35 · Perry McCowan (unverified label)
both both.
1:05:37 · Larry Eaton (unverified label)
And I'm telling you, it was a violation. No, it wasn't.
1:05:40 · Steve Sherlin (unverified label)
It was,
1:05:40 · Larry Eaton (unverified label)
and the public knows that. So anyway, any other discussions?
1:05:44 · Steve Sherlin (unverified label)
You're out of order. Anyway, this is not in regard to what we're dealing with here. It is. No, it's not.
1:05:50 · Freddy Schultz (unverified label)
It is.
1:05:51 · Perry McCowan (unverified label)
I only have one comment. According to the contract that was signed, that he signed, he signed it. He signed. He makes it plain that the council does not have not have to explain why. It
1:06:09 · Larry Eaton (unverified label)
doesn't say Councilman Perry McAllen. They they don't have to explain what it says. The majority can vote the contract non-existent, and the we work for the public, and the public are the ones that we answer to, and we will not be answering to them because we're not telling them. And and the two items that mr. Whiting brought up was false, and and and and I've even heard them heard the same things, and and there's rumors flying everywhere, and and that's that's wrong to to to allow such such rumors for anybody. I wouldn't I wouldn't even put that on anyone. So, but anyway,
1:06:51 · Steve Sherlin (unverified label)
well, you misstated that because what he signed was in his contract that he could be terminated without cause and with cause, he was terminated without cause, which means nothing has to be disclosed as to why. And it says plainly in our charter that he serves at the pleasure of the council. Period. Now he understood that he knows that, and we are under no obligation to disclose any reasons other than we exercised the clause in his contract that gave us the right to dismiss him without cause, and that's why he was dismissed. We don't have to give a reason,
1:07:42 · Larry Eaton (unverified label)
but I work for the public as you do, and the public is the ones that require us. We work for the public. We tell them what's going on. I know who will. Litigation is the only terms that we can go in in executive meetings, and there was no litigations. Even the even the city city attorney even said there was no litigations in in the meetings. So anyway,
1:08:07 · Steve Sherlin (unverified label)
let let me clarify that for you because I I'm tired of these lies being put forth. Executive meetings are for the purpose of discussing possible litigation or litigation; those meetings were brought forth in the effort to discover any possible litigation. That's why we had those meetings. Now, what we discussed in there is private confidential.
1:08:37 · Larry Eaton (unverified label)
Our city attorney said that there was no litigation could be done through the contract the way it was, so therefore those meetings and the and the last meeting we had was a violation of sunshine law.
1:08:55 · Steve Sherlin (unverified label)
That's
1:08:56 · Jordan Curtis (unverified label)
right. Y'all ready to vote?
1:08:58 · John Duggan (unverified label)
Well, I was I was going to say you you clarified the meeting information, but it would be nice to clarify that those two topics that were brought up by the comment section was not the reason by those who voted him out. That would help the public if if you could actually verbally agree to that. I
1:09:17 · Steve Sherlin (unverified label)
think the mayor is already made that clear.
1:09:20 · Jordan Curtis (unverified label)
You guys think our job to sit up here and have a motion on every room we're going around town? We're going to be here all night.
1:09:25 · Steve Sherlin (unverified label)
Yeah.
1:09:26 · Jordan Curtis (unverified label)
So hey, look, I'm going to stand by my word. We voted. We give this letter of recommendation. Our councils collaborate on this letter. Let's vote on it and let's move on, guys. We got important business that we need to tend to. We got a fire hall we got to construct. We have infrastructure need. We bought important business for this city for the future. And I will not allow. For it, guys. I'm not looking back. I'm looking forward.
1:09:48 · Larry Eaton (unverified label)
Well, Vice Mayor, I am not going to allow a man to be demoralized because of rumors. Because our City Council will not tell the tell our our. Employers, what's going on? There's
1:10:02 · John Duggan (unverified label)
one more item on the list, anyway. So I don't know what's the what's the rush.
1:10:09 · Perry McCowan (unverified label)
Spinning wheels, guys. Let's go. Let's go. Let's go. Let's go.
1:10:12 · Larry Eaton (unverified label)
Any other discussions? Roll call.
1:10:16 · Perry McCowan (unverified label)
What's the call? What's the motion? It's
1:10:18 · Larry Eaton (unverified label)
the motion for the recommendation of the letter. The
1:10:20 · Perry McCowan (unverified label)
letter, just the just the
1:10:21 · Larry Eaton (unverified label)
letter, just the
1:10:22 · Perry McCowan (unverified label)
letter. Okay.
1:10:25 · Speaker 2 (unverified label)
Roll call.
1:10:26 · Missy White (unverified label)
Councilmember McCowan,
1:10:28 · Perry McCowan (unverified label)
aye.
1:10:29 · Missy White (unverified label)
Councilmember Dugan,
1:10:30 · John Duggan (unverified label)
abstain.
1:10:33 · Missy White (unverified label)
Councilmember Charlen,
1:10:35 · Steve Sherlin (unverified label)
abstain.
1:10:38 · Missy White (unverified label)
Vice Mayor Pardis, aye. Mayor Eaton. Aye.
1:10:46 · Larry Eaton (unverified label)
Okay, line item AF.
1:10:50 · Missy White (unverified label)
Review travel policy.
1:10:52 · John Duggan (unverified label)
There's no need for a motion on this. I actually meant to tell Bridget that you know we were just going to have a discussion in the the business or study session, and then bring it forward in August. So there's really no discussion. Plus, it also allows you know since we have it in our minutes, it allows the public to see what we have for travel policy to review.
1:11:15 · Larry Eaton (unverified label)
Okay. Going into reports, I have
1:11:19 · Steve Sherlin (unverified label)
one more.
1:11:19 · Larry Eaton (unverified label)
Oh, I apologize. Go ahead.
1:11:22 · Steve Sherlin (unverified label)
In regard to presentation that was given, and because there are, it's time sensitive, and it won't take that long to find an answer to this. I would like to ask for someone to go with or the mayor to agree to a call meeting concerning this mural decision on next Tuesday at 530.
1:11:58 · John Duggan (unverified label)
Are you saying a call meeting next Tuesday at 530.
1:12:01 · Perry McCowan (unverified label)
Yeah,
1:12:01 · Larry Eaton (unverified label)
I'm
1:12:02 · John Duggan (unverified label)
working.
1:12:03 · Larry Eaton (unverified label)
I have checked my calendar. I tell you what.
1:12:08 · Steve Sherlin (unverified label)
Let's let's say what day are you not working?
1:12:10 · John Duggan (unverified label)
Wednesday, Thursday, Friday.
1:12:13 · Steve Sherlin (unverified label)
Wednesday is okay.
1:12:15 · Bridget Roberts (unverified label)
Council, what questions do you have now? I mean, is there anything that we can answer for you. We we
1:12:21 · Larry Eaton (unverified label)
need to have you and the city attorney to make sure.
1:12:25 · Bridget Roberts (unverified label)
Okay. I just want to let you know I am on vacation next week. I won't be here.
1:12:30 · Perry McCowan (unverified label)
We could get our,
1:12:31 · Bridget Roberts (unverified label)
but I mean, we
1:12:33 · Larry Eaton (unverified label)
could get by the 24th all the questions answered, and then then we can we can find out what date we can do on the next week.
1:12:41 · Steve Sherlin (unverified label)
Well, he said he could do it Wednesday.
1:12:44 · Larry Eaton (unverified label)
That's church night. I'd rather be at church than I went to city council unless it's
1:12:48 · Steve Sherlin (unverified label)
all right. Well, let's keep moving it then. How about Thursday?
1:12:51 · Larry Eaton (unverified label)
Church is more important to me.
1:12:53 · Perry McCowan (unverified label)
That's fine. Amen. Thursday's not. No, Friday would be better for me. I'll be in Chattanooga. I'll be out town
1:13:03 · Steve Sherlin (unverified label)
Friday,
1:13:04 · Larry Eaton (unverified label)
31st, 31st, young
1:13:05 · Steve Sherlin (unverified label)
30th, the 31st.
1:13:07 · Perry McCowan (unverified label)
Yeah, 31st.
1:13:08 · Steve Sherlin (unverified label)
Yeah,
1:13:16 · Larry Eaton (unverified label)
or we can do it on on. We can have a call meeting. That on is the third the the work session first Monday of the month.
1:13:28 · John Duggan (unverified label)
No, it's normally the second Monday of the month.
1:13:30 · Perry McCowan (unverified label)
Second Monday.
1:13:30 · Larry Eaton (unverified label)
Okay.
1:13:31 · Bridget Roberts (unverified label)
10th would be the work session for August.
1:13:32 · Larry Eaton (unverified label)
Never mind then. That's a little bit late. Too far. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Okay. Let's do the the 31st. I'll call the meeting for the 31st, if that's okay with everybody. Let's go. Let's go 8o'clock at night.
1:13:52 · John Duggan (unverified label)
We can go. We can go five or 530. It
1:13:55 · Larry Eaton (unverified label)
won't take probably. Won't take that long for a decision. I
1:14:00 · Jordan Curtis (unverified label)
guess it's our question whether this would be appropriate to disburse tourism funds. That really thought our question
1:14:10 · Larry Eaton (unverified label)
is. So let's just-if there is a problem before-I mean, we we can we can change that before the date. But let's go 31st to 5o'clock. Works for me. Okay. Any other new business? If not, you you have your reports in front of you. mr. Keith gave you the financial report. It was a part of the package, but it's it's on there. So if you got any discussions, any any any questions, gentlemen?
1:14:45 · John Duggan (unverified label)
I just want to make a comment. It's good to see that there's a few more permits out there concerning the development. Gone up since the last time we met on that.
1:14:57 · Larry Eaton (unverified label)
And so, any. More comments, gentlemen. Do you have city managers? Do you have any any other?
1:15:06 · Bridget Roberts (unverified label)
The only thing I I would like to mention is we have our Japanese students from Chinsayakuakan High School coming here to City Hall to visit us tomorrow for a few hours. They're going to eat lunch with us, and then I wanted to. We had mentioned in work session the city officials from Izaha, Japan, which is our sister city, the dates they'll be here will be in October from the 18th to the 23rd. So that was the only two things that I wanted to mention tonight.
1:15:33 · Larry Eaton (unverified label)
That's a that's a big two two big things. That's especially tomorrow when the kids maybe they'll get arrested. So, but anyway, okay. So let's see in the reports now that we're going to citizens' comments. First one, mr. Whiting, please.
1:16:03 · Glen Whitey (unverified label)
Have to be honest, it pains me to sit here and actually agree with Larry, but I'm going to. But I am tired of this council using executive meetings and called meetings improperly. Now, last month, Larry called a called meeting so he could hire his friend from AUB to cut the trees at double the cost. That was an improper way to use a call meeting that could have been done in a regular meeting. Why was it done that way? But now we've had two executive meetings to discuss the manager Randy Dowings. My understanding is there was no lawsuit or litigation of any kind pending. So why is it an executive meeting? Now I heard what Steve said, so I don't know about all that. But what I do know is I went to the comptroller's office, and based on their responses to my question, it appears like those were illegal meetings. Now maybe the city attorney needs to have an investigation, or there needs to be something to find out because we've been using these type of meetings for years now, mostly over my stuff, to avoid telling the truth. And I'm not, and I will tell you, Steve, you're the one of the few that I actually have respect for sitting up there. I believe you. You know, I don't always agree with you, and I'll say it when I don't. But at least there's a mutual respect, but I think it was wrong, and I and I actually appreciate John's motion for it. Now, obviously, we don't know what's going on, but a man's career and his life is in, and I know what it feels like because I have been beat up by this city to unbelievable amounts. But you cannot leave people believing that he did something of those natures, what he is asking for to amend it, that letter and put in there is the right thing to do. You should clear his name of what he didn't do, even if you can't tell us what he did do. And what you're doing is setting the city up for litigation. I know we're saying, well, he can't sue. You can sue when you destroy a man's livelihood and his, you're hurting his credibility, so it's wrong. What's really upsetting about it, and I'm not going to get into half what I have here, but what is this? Is he actually sent a memo offering to resign with the severance package, and a letter recommendation that was denied, so you fire him and then you give him exactly what he asked for. I have a hard time understanding that as a citizen, and I'm not a supporter of Randy. I've spoke out about him meeting after meeting, but I've always believed in truth. And I will tell you, my podcast will always deal with truth. We need to stop what's going on in this city, and it's not going to stop until we start being transparent. And Larry, what you said about everything is a lie. You've done more covering up than anyone I know. And talking about transparency, you come in here and said, "Let's let's listen speak. Let's have the people be able to comment. You cut all that. Every one of you are hypocrites in the way you're doing this, and it's wrong. Now I'm done with that. I'm going to ask for 30 seconds to talk about the mural, if I can have it. No, you've got your time. Thank you for your comments. Appreciate it.
1:19:12 · Larry Eaton (unverified label)
Catherine Hunter, Miss Hunter. Oh, she had. Okay. Ever get Gillespie?
1:19:33 · Eric Lespy (unverified label)
My name is Eric Lespy. I am a member of McMinn County Neighbors. We are an affiliate of SACM. SACUM is an acronym for statewide organizing for community impairments. Our mission is to advocate for underserved communities. We are. Are a grassroots organization. We meet the residents where they live, and we engage them and organize them so that their voices can be raised and heard. We feel our organization and the community at large feel that the North City area is a underserved community. There is no city-funded activities or no facilities for any activities for youth and families in this area. There has been no funding, or resourcing, or investment in this community for youth and families for years, and I would dare say, for decades. So that brings us here tonight to ask that the city council begin the process to meet the needs of the North City residents regarding youth and families, for this community, for those residents, for those taxpayers, for those voters, and for your constituents, and we would ask that the council put this park designation on the agenda for August city council meeting. So this critical need can be addressed. Thank you.
1:22:06 · Larry Eaton (unverified label)
Thank you, sir. Thank you. Reed Clayton.
1:22:22 · Reed Clayton (unverified label)
I'm Reed Clayton. I'm a former student from North City, and I did graduate. So, anyway, but what I wanted to let you know was my years at North City. In when school was out for summer, I lived on the playground at the tennis courts, and I know a lot of people went to the swimming pool. I would like to see some new tennis courts built and a swimming pool built. I've talked to people that go to Ingleside, and they say everything's crowded over there. We need something in North Athens for the youth to do, and I agree with Everett and everything he said, thank you. Thank you, sir.
1:23:08 · Larry Eaton (unverified label)
Jeff Eastman.
1:23:18 · Jeff Eastman (unverified label)
My name is Jeff Eastman. You probably know me as a retired CEO for Mount Harry Medical, who for over 40 years provided free medical dental care to those in need. In that 40 years, I happened to live in Athens. When I came here, one round, you could see that there was facilities. There was a pool over at Cook Park. There was a pool over in our city, there's a pool over at City Park. Those have all gone away. Consolidation. If you talk to any individuals or with the city council back then, they'll say, you know, we probably shouldn't have closed those down. We shouldn't have closed and sold that property that's out there. Help me out, Deb Matlock. Okay, city property. Okay, we've got a great, unique opportunity to invest in our city. Kit, it's good to see you. Haven't seen you for years. Okay, but if you look at the tone of the meeting, is let's invest in the city, okay? Let's invest in the mural. When we invest in the city, we had a great report from the Fourth of July celebration. Okay, let's keep that going. Okay, let's have this city council be able to look back one year, two years, five years, and say, "Hey, we made a great decision. Look how we added to the community to bring people in. So I just ask us to move forward to think about it, put it on the agenda, and help really grow the community. And once again, thank you so much for your time and your support.
1:25:01 · Larry Eaton (unverified label)
Jane Chastain. Jane, no.
1:25:12 · Jane Chastain (unverified label)
I practiced just looking at you all instead of. Good evening. I'm Jane Chastain. I live at 1217 Knoxville Avenue in Athens. Last month at that June work session, you all requested that the Parks and Rec Advisory Committee be consulted before we went forward with the North City property, and then at their June meeting, they unanimously voted to recommend the council move forward, designating the land as public park, public space, public park space. So I'm just here to speak in favor of the North City School Land becoming a park. For many generations, North City's provided life-changing friendships, opportunities, and experiences for so many of us. And I'm just here to say, just let's please keep that going. So, in whatever form this develops into, we must give this next generation their due, like we had when we were growing up. We appreciate your hard work and the support you've given to us, but don't leave us in doubt. Put this on the August agenda, and as Feb Byrne might say, be good boys and vote for the park.
1:26:49 · Larry Eaton (unverified label)
Austin sells sourbre. What you said? What you said? Hi,
1:26:58 · Austin Sauerbry (unverified label)
my name is Austin Sauerbry, 1406 Dossett Street, and I just want to echo everything that's already been said, and just look out at the folks with these green shirts. This is a small percentage of those 220 folks had conversations with since last fall. They filled out surveys, and these are folks showing up, sitting through an almost two-hour council meeting because they believe in something for their community. We appreciate everything that y'all do for this community, and I just want to take a quick minute just to read just a few of the things, comments that people made on the survey from residents in the area. First, someone says a community center is a number one need in Athens. Period. There's no better place to put a community center, a place that offers after-school care or different sport activities, arts, craft, computer work. There's no place in Athens for kids to excel or start their interests. We need something like this desperately in our community. Another person says, "I want North the North Athens community to have something they can be proud of. I would like to see something that the children of this area can benefit from. Another person says teens and young adults need something to do to stay out of trouble and to feel connected to their community. Another person says I hope they do something good on this land that actually serves the community. Another person says I would like to see more facilities and activities provided in our community area for the youth. We have lots for older people and people with money, but we need something for youth that's no cost or low cost. This is one that goes on and on and on. And so I think just want to reiterate that this is public land, and we appreciate. We've heard from every council member that there's no intent to sell the land. The folks want to keep it for public use, but we know city councils change. What you're saying now that there may be different people in office come next year, and so we believe it's really important to take this first step to designate the land as public park space, and then to begin to work with the community on what what that looks like is it a community center is it a park is it a pool we know that those details we don't we don't have those figured out we're not the experts we need to work with city staff we need to work with you all to figure that out but this first step is really important it would mean a lot for the community and it actually makes concrete the thing that you've all said is your intent, and so we'd ask, please put the designation of the North City land, school land, as public park space. Put that on the August agenda, and let's let's start this process. Thank you so much.
1:29:43 · Larry Eaton (unverified label)
There's one thing, City Council. I I want to ask you guys that we do need to put on on the August agenda, and I talked to Miss Jane and and mr. Austin. There's a there's two small lots across the road. If you if you guys remember me talking about it, that I think and and we'd have to talk put it on the agenda to talk about it is to sell those for residential use, and and I don't know if we can do this. We'd have to talk to the financial guy, and take the money whatever it sells for and put it into a fund for a a park, a community park over there, to start something over there, so that we have a park for the kids, at least some slides and stuff like that, starting out, and moving forward, we need to put some things on the on the agenda for for future, looking at some things, put it on our what's the word I'm trying to use the works not the workstation but the the the future
1:30:49 · John Duggan (unverified label)
the summit
1:30:50 · Larry Eaton (unverified label)
the summit yeah look at the summit and see what we can do with it and and also another thing that that I that's been brought up for a couple of years and and I've been trying to do something, and is I'd like to put on the agenda for for future, not right now, because our budget for for the for our summit and work and start talking about it in the work session is maybe up at Knox Park, Prof Powers Park, looking at a first responders memorial time of deal for that also. That's that's two of the things I like to be put on the agenda just for discussion only, not for voting or nothing like that. For discussion to move forward. So, gentlemen, mr. Mayor, yes, sir.
1:31:36 · Steve Sherlin (unverified label)
I would like to point out that I appreciate what you had to say. That in work session, this past work session, I ask that a resolution be drawn up by the city attorney to declare the area in North Athens a city park, and that the residents take part in the naming of that park, and our city manager wanted some time to investigate some things in regard to that, and I deferred to that. And I'm assuming that you were going to have that ready for the August agenda. I have
1:32:16 · Bridget Roberts (unverified label)
gathered the information, some information. I have not got with the city attorney to actually write the resolution, but it is in the works.
1:32:25 · Steve Sherlin (unverified label)
Okay, but I just wanted to make that known that I think we need to have that resolution to discuss the resolution for a vote in the council meeting that follows, instead of putting it off on the meeting in February, which in essence would kill it, so I think we need to just deal with it in the August agenda, and hopefully we can have the city attorney draw up a resolution on it when come up. That was the
1:33:06 · Bridget Roberts (unverified label)
plan. It was going to be presented next month.
1:33:08 · Perry McCowan (unverified label)
Yeah.
1:33:08 · Bridget Roberts (unverified label)
Yeah.
1:33:10 · Steve Sherlin (unverified label)
So I appreciate it, and I just wanted to that clarification so the public would know that was something that was in the works.
1:33:17 · Larry Eaton (unverified label)
Small piece of property. If we can look, get the city council. It's it's on the other side. It's on the plot. I
1:33:24 · Bridget Roberts (unverified label)
know what you're talking about. Okay, we'll look into that as well.
1:33:27 · Larry Eaton (unverified label)
And and and the and the public over there can can physically see the two little plots. They'll have to be combined together because they're you can't build on two different plates. It has to be combined. So anyway, I was
1:33:38 · John Duggan (unverified label)
going to say if I was going to request the city manager to get with Parks and Rec director to see what kind of grants we can look towards concerning playgrounds and things like that for that park itself.
1:33:56 · Bridget Roberts (unverified label)
We can look into that.
1:33:58 · Larry Eaton (unverified label)
Okay, gentlemen, do I have a motion to adjourn.
1:34:01 · Perry McCowan (unverified label)
Motion to adjourn.
1:34:02 · Larry Eaton (unverified label)
Here a second. Second. Roll call.
1:34:07 · Missy White (unverified label)
Councilmember McCowan.
1:34:08 · Perry McCowan (unverified label)
Aye.
1:34:09 · Missy White (unverified label)
Councilmember Dugan.
1:34:11 · Freddy Schultz (unverified label)
Aye.
1:34:11 · Missy White (unverified label)
Councilmember Sherland. Vice Mayor Curtis. Aye. Mayor Eaton.
1:34:17 · Larry Eaton (unverified label)
Aye. Mayor Eaton.
1:34:20 · Missy White (unverified label)
Mayor Eden.