Norris City Council Minutes Monday December 14, 2009 BE IT REMEMBERED THAT THE CITY OF NORRIS CITY COUNCIL MET IN REGULAR SESSION ON JANUARY 11, 2010 WITH THE FOLLOWING COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT: JACK BLACK, LOY JOHNSON, TOMMY MARINER, CHRIS MITCHELL AND JOY WILSON. HEAR THE PUBLIC Guest speaker Jeff Harshbarger, Principal for Norris Middle School, Certified Olweus Trainer, came to speak on Bullying Prevention Program. Mr. Harshbarger has joined up with a committee that has formed Anti-Bullying rules in the Anderson County School System starting in Norris Middle School, which consist of 4 keys points, we will not bully others, we will try to help students who are bullied, we will try to include students who are left out, if we see someone being bullied, tell an adult at home and at school. There are 17% of students participating in Bullying. There will be an event Tuesday January 5, 2010 on how to prevent Bullying in the school system. All parents are encouraged to come by and listen to how we can avoid Bullying in the school system. Angelo Miceli stated concerns with visibility on secondary roads. He would like for the City to acquire equipment for putting lines down in center of road. Secondary roads are to narrow. Mayor Mitchell stated reflectors could be put in place. Action to take place by Council Member Jack Black to present the issue for review to the Planning Commission. Guest speaker Rodney Archer, Trustee for Anderson County Government came to speak on the new Satellite office that has been in the Norris community area for a year. It has been successful having over 150 people a day including Lake City traffic flow coming by to use the Satellite office as well. The new office hours are M-F 8-5pm. Mr. Archer stated that he has been able to capture a lot of historical possessions from the Norris area to have in the Satellite office. Please come out and visit the office. C. A. Ridge stated that a year later, city council has worked hard to get where they are today and has completed all workshops. The City Manager has jumped right in and has done a great job. Mr. Ridge stated that this council and management have great leadership. Randy Rodney stated concerns with flooding in Dairy Pond area, can something be done? Council Member Tommy Mariner stated that this has been an on going situation and would like to see something done, but past studies have indicated that it would be cost prohibitive. MINUTES 1. Council Member Joy Wilson moved to approve the Council Minute changes as amended. Seconded by Council Member Jack Black. Motion carried by voice vote. 2. Council Member Jack Black moved to approve the November 5, 2009 Charter of the CITY OF NORRIS workshop minutes as written. Seconded by Council Member Loy Johnson. Motion carried by voice vote. 3. Council Member Loy Johnson move to approve the December 7, 2009 Charter of the CITY OF NORRIS workshop minutes as written. Seconded by Council Member Joy Wilson. Motion carried by voice vote. OLD BUSINESS Proposal Regarding "Community Development Board" Membership. Increasing the current five (5) voting members to seven (7) voting members with staggered terms as follows: a. Council representative (Joy Wilson) term to be concurrent with Council term. b. Planning Commission representative (Jeff Merritt) term to be concurrent with Planning Commission term. c. Community representative terms shall be three (3) years each except for the one time below changes required to establish a set of future staggered three (3) year terms. Effective December 1, 2009, the below named members will serve as follows: * Jack Mitchell’s term to be three (3) years. * George Miceli’s term to be three (3) years. * Loretta Painter’s term to be two (2) years. * James Hayes term to be two (2) years. * Ron hackler’s term to be one (1) year. Everyone is in agreement to terms above. City Manager Hester recommended to first passing an Ordinance changing the membership from 5 to 7. An Ordinance will require two readings. After the Ordinance has been passed, then update the membership terms. 4. Council Member Tommy Mariner makes motion to approve on first reading an Ordinance to increase the membership of the Community Development Board from five (5) to seven (7). Seconded by Council member Jack Black. Motion carried by voice vote. TEA -21 grant, Dairypond sidewalk update. Preliminary plans are ready to send to TDOT for review. Traffic concerns; having three way stop signs versus traffic calming measures at the intersection of Dairy Pond and Laurel Place. Have Cannon and Cannon review for a recommendation for pedestrian walk way and signs. Make a decision next meeting. Community Development Board updates on a Norris Merchant’s sign will be addressed next month. City Charter Workshop meeting will be scheduled for January 4, 2010 @ 5:30pm. CITY MANAGER REPORT Update on Year to date budget. Property Tax Collections for the current year continue on target at $530,179.00, or 99% of budget. State Sales Tax and Local Option Sales Tax are running slightly below budget at 94% of expected revenue. Expenditures are in line to budget. Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant update. Grant timelines have been announced and the audit is in process on the Community Building, Public Safety Building, McNeeley building, and the Norris Water Plant. Timing is on target to meet the deadline for applications of December 30, 2009. Resolution 8-2009 is to be considered to authorize the grant application and to commit to the use of any generated savings towards additional conservation measures when possible. 5. Council Member Jack Black makes a motion to approve Resolution 8-2009. Seconded by Council Member Joy Wilson. Motion carried by voice vote. Alvin York Machine Gun has been purchased by John Rice Irwin and given to Norris Public Safety for State regulation laws. This Gun purchased will be displayed in the Museum of Appalachia. Governor’s seatbelt safety initiative. Norris Public Safety participated in this special program at the request of the Governor’s office. Many citations were issued for not wearing seatbelts. There was a $100.00 donation from the Norris Quilt Guild for providing the Community Building for them. NEW BUSINESS James Harshbarger presented information on the efforts to revise the "Norris Little Theater" that was disbanded in the 70’s. Mayor Chris Mitchell would like to form a Board for the Little Theatre. Ordinance 512 would amend title II of the City of Norris, Tennessee boards and commissions, and create the Norris little theatre board. Key points are:7-102. General Powers and duties. The Norris Little Theatre Board is hereby empowered and directed to provide, establish, maintain, and conduct a community theatre program for residents of the City of Norris, utilizing such facilities, and appropriations as the city council may designate or appropriate for theatrical activities.7-103. Operation. The board shall choose its own officers, make its own rules and regulations and keep a journal of its proceedings. The officers shall include an "Artistic Director" who shall have veto powers regarding decisions of a creative nature. 6. Council Member Tommy Mariner makes a motion to create a board for the Little Theatre, and to accept on first reading, Ordinance 512. Seconded by Council Member Joy Wilson. Motion carried by voice vote. The Recreation Commission will be meeting and discussing the funds that have been raised for recreation equipment. The dollar amount raised $1,900. Mayor Mitchell proposed that an annexation study should be done on select properties in the Norris Urban Growth Boundary to determine the viability of the inclusion of these properties into Municipal boundaries. The properties to be studied at this time would be bordering Highway 61 from Cross Pike northward to Buffalo Creek. The study would be done by the State Planning Office and submitted to the Planning Commission for review. 7. Council Member Chris Mitchell makes a motion to request an annexation study. Seconded by Council Member Tommy Mariner. Motion carried by voice vote. Recycle committee asked to look at grants for new leave machine. 8. Council Member Jack Black moved to adjourn. Seconded by Council Member Loy Johnson. Motion carried by voice vote. 9:00pm