By Crystal McGough
CLAY — The Clay City Council passed four resolutions issuing certificates of election for the city council on Tuesday, July 28, 2020, at the regularly scheduled council meeting, which took place on Zoom.
Each of the following positions was certified as having only one person to file a statement of candidacy for that office before 5 p.m. on the third Tuesday of July 2020.
Resolution 2020-15 names Dean Kirkner as the only person to file a statement of candidacy for City Council Place 2.
Resolution 2020-16 names Ben Thackerson as the only person to file a statement of candidacy for City Council Place 3.
Resolution 2020-17 names Bo Johnson as the only person to file a statement of candidacy for City Council Place 4.
Resolution 2020-18 names Dennis Locke as the only person to file a statement of candidacy for City Council Place 5.
The council also passed Resolution 2020-19, appointing poll workers for the Aug. 25, 2020 municipal election.
“We in the city are really fortunate that we have had enough people volunteer to do that for us,” City Manager Ronnie Dixon said.
The council unanimously passed Ordinance 2020-06, amending Ordinance 2013-17 to revise the city’s personnel policy because the former policy became invalid after the city’s population grew beyond 2,500 people.
The council also held a public hearing concerning weed abatement at 6996 Mountain View Drive NE, but no one spoke for or against the abatement during the hearing. Resolution 2020-13, authorizing the abatement, was unanimously passed by the council following the hearing.
The council also unanimously passed Resolution 2020-14, declaring weeds to be a public nuisance at the following addresses:
2146 Sweeney Hollow Road
5110 Hickory Drive
5329 Baggett Drive
5370 Scott Drive
5423 White Oak Road
5435 White Oak Road
5714 Dogwood Road
5870 Brenda Drive
Center Point Fire District Chief Gene Coleman spoke to the council on the recent golf tournament fundraiser, as well as the tragic loss of the Grayson Valley Fire Station captain.
“Yesterday was probably one of our greatest days and one of our saddest days,” Coleman said. “We started out the morning with a wonderful golf tournament at the Grayson Valley Country Club; great support from the community, our fire service, our business partners, elected officials, (and) just simple folk out for a great day. The day went great, the tournament turned out a great success … I know we’ll continue to make a difference in the communities and the Breast Cancer Research Foundation, MDA (muscular dystrophy association), Children’s Hospital and the Kid One program.
“Unfortunately, last night about 10:30, the captain of the Grayson Valley Fire Station was called home in a tragic event for us as a fire department, because we are family, really close family. I’ve said it before: He represented the fire service as an energetic firefighter with passion. … I’ve encouraged those who had met him to celebrate his life and what he has done in his career, whether it was making you laugh or just teaching you something to make you a better firefighter or paramedic.
“I do believe, tomorrow, we are scheduling to carry him back to his hometown. We haven’t completely picked the route yet, but my goal is to hopefully bring him down Chalkville Road, stop in front of his fire station, let them pay tribute to him, and carry him on north. Again, difficult day for us, but staying with our slogan, you gotta keep a beep where you sleep, close the door where you snore, 911 is our number and we make house calls. A little different normal today, but it is what it is, and we are blessed.”
The next meeting of the Clay City Council will be Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2020, at 6:30 p.m. via Zoom.