The Brandenburg City Council worked through a lengthy meeting Monday (11/13) night as zoning requests continued to be discussed.
The council heard two of three second readings of the zoning change request with one vote resulting a tie vote decide by the mayor. The council first approved the second reading of zoning request along Ready Mix Road. They then heard and discussed rezoning change requested related to the property owned by Chris McGehee at the corner of the Bypass and Battletown Roads. The issue centers upon the the development consisting of R-2 instead of R-1 zoned dwellings that was originally agreed upon during voluntary annexation of the property. The city has already extended city utilities to the edge of the development and after a renegotiation between Mayor Bryan Claycomb and McGehee, some city council members feel that the original agreement was breached. Mayor Claycomb has stated in that past couple of meetings that he reviewed development and approached the idea with developer to have R-2 zoned lots in effort to allow more flexibility and growth for the city. When the vote was called for the council provide a 3 to 3 vote with Mayor Claycomb casting the deciding vote in favor of the rezoning.
The third zoning request was tabled until the several questions were answered related to the exact request to change the zoning on the convent at St. John Church to C-2.
At the beginning of the meeting, Mayor Claycomb asked the council to approved two new resolutions related to adopting the streets if the BridgePoint Plaza into the city system. He said the work has been completed but the city surveyor Tim Smith found a couple of small discrepancies related to streets on the previously approved resolution. After the new resolutions were approved, David Pace asked the council to include the remaining section of Hartlage Way from the property line with the Cecilian Bank to the edge of the Fast Pace property to included as a second resolution to be included into the city street system. The council unanimously approved the request.
In other business, Mayor Claycomb discussed with the council the Newcomb Oil sewer line extension project. The company is wanting to provide a private one and half inch sewer line to connect from their proposed site along 313 and Nelson Lane. The line would provide service for a new proposed gas station and the neighboring Jones property which were recently annexed into the city limits. The mayor asked the council to consider providing the offset cost to increase the size of the line to a 4 or 6 inch line to connect into the city systems which would support additional growth. The council took no action and Mayor Claycomb said the city is reviewing documents from Newcomb Oils request.
The council approved an interlocal agreement with the Meade County Solid Waste and Recycling Center for handling recyclable materials. The county center will process and sell the collected materials from the city. The council also approved resolutions for grant funds totaling $607,811 for the SCADA technology for the waste water treatment plant and upgrade to the water plant. Mayor Claycomb said the Lincoln Trail Area Development District was taking care of the paper work and would take a four percent payment for their service from the total amount of the grant funds.
During departmental reports, Police Chief Brian Hagg explained the needs and attempted to clear up confusion related to reassignment and purchases of police vehicles. Mayor Claycomb took responsibility for the confusion related to vehicles. During the discussion, Councilman Mark Spry asked if there a was set mileage point to retire police vehicles and keep them updated as he had reviewed a list of vehicles that are at or over 100,000 miles. No specific retirement ceiling was known. After the discussion the council voted to approved a purchase of a truck and related equipment for the police department which will paid for by remaining ARPA funds.
The council approved a one time salary adjustment of $1,000 for fulltime employees, $500 for part employees, and $200 for members of Citizens On Patrol.
At the end of the meeting, Councilmember Ginger Coomes asked about the procedures for replacing the mayor position and the appointment. The question was spurred after council members received a letter of resignation from Mayor Claycomb which will be effective as of December 31, 2023. No reasons for the resignation were discussed. City Attorney Jessica Roberts outlined the potential approaches the council could take before or after the resignation date. After the discussion, the council concluded they want to have that issue as agenda items during the December meeting.
You can watch the entire regular meeting of the Brandenburg City Council in our “On Demand” section.
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