By Bethany Adams, For The Tribune
CLAY— During pre-council preceding Monday night’s city council meeting, Mayor Charles Webster and the council discussed the mobile cameras, which were recently purchased by the city.
“The sheriff said today what a great deterrent they are,” City Manager Ronnie Dixon said.
Webster further addressed the meeting that he and Dixon had with the Sheriff Hale.
“He was very excited about us purchasing the cameras,” Webster said.
He added that, during the meeting, they also discussed the addition of new deputies.
“We should have somebody pretty soon,” he said.
A number of council members thanked everyone who was involved in the Christmas parade, including Public Works.
“The Christmas parade was great; they did a great job on the float,” Councilor Dennis Locke said. “And there was a great turnout, too.”
“The high school band participated,” Webster added. “They had a great turnout.”
The meeting included the annual audit, presented by David Cork with Cork, Hill and Company.
“The highlights to me are that the city had revenues in excess of expenditures of seven-hundred and twenty-something thousand dollars,” Cork said, explaining that the desirable amount of money in contingency-type funds is 10 percent of funds. “You well exceed that.”
In addition, Cork explained that the city has reduced its debt by $287,000, spent $96,000 on parks and improvements and put $300,000 into paving streets.
“I can’t find any fault with what you do,” Cork said.
Later during the meeting the council approved eight separate resolutions for the abatement of weeds around the city.
The properties included multiple undeveloped lots in Highland Green, where, according to Dixon, the fire fighters have been unable to access hydrants in order to test them. The fire department contacted the city with a request for abatement.
Dixon also stated that all but one of the properties addressed during the meeting are unoccupied.
“And they’re owned by various entities, but most of them are in foreclosure,” Dixon added.
During public comments, former council member Kevin Small addressed the fact that Sheriff Hale has yet to provide new deputies.
“He still hasn’t fulfilled the request we made almost two years ago,” Small said, suggesting that, if the request remains unfulfilled, the council redirect those funds toward the purchase of new cameras.
Webster reminded the audience that, starting in January, the council will be meeting on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month.
The next city council meeting will be on Tuesday, Jan. 10 at 6:30 p.m. with pre-council