By Nathan Prewett
LEEDS – The Leeds City Council authorized a non-binding letter of intent for the development of a sports complex during a regular meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 7 at City Hall.
A copy of the resolution that authorized the letter can be seen online in the agenda packet. The resolution details that the city intends to develop the project around Exit 140 of U.S. Highway 20.
According to the resolution, the letter will “provide a nonbinding catalyst” to be in line with more agreements and legal requirements to follow.
The council went into an executive session that lasted for more than an hour before coming back to approve the letter unanimously. Mayor David Miller expressed his approval of the project but could spare few details outside of what the resolution states.
“I think this starts the ball rolling on something that’s going to be absolutely game-changing for the city of Leeds,” he said. “We’ve got a group of people that we have confidence in and trust and I think they can have that same confidence and trust in the council.
“As we go along and this becomes more and more public and we have more and more definitions I think everybody’s going to be really happy that we’ve started down this path.”
Before the regular meeting began there was a public hearing concerning the passing of Resolution 2021-09-01, which concerned the city’s $10,080,000 principal amount taxable general obligation warrants or 94.01 projects and would refund a portion of the warrants for Series 2018 or Exit 140 projects.
No one spoke for or against the resolution in the public hearing and it was approved unanimously later during the regular meeting.
Two items were added to the agenda, both of which were related to EMS services. The first was to authorize training for EMS students at the fire department.
“What this amounts to is we have a large number of first responders that are pursuing EMS certifications from Herzing,” Miller said. “This will allow Herzing to come on the property and do the training here rather than having to go to some other site.”
The other resolution authorized billing support services for the fire department. The resolution allowed the city to acquire software that performs direct billing for ambulance service. Both resolutions were passed unanimously.
During reports from department heads, Fire Chief Chuck Parsons said that on Saturday, Sept. 11 there will be an annual 9/11 fundraiser where there will be food and a raffle.
Library Director Melody Carden said that library hours will have a slight change in hours for the next 10 days after an employee came down sick and is in isolation, though she said that it was not COVID. The library will be closed this coming Saturday and on Tuesday, Sept. 14.
In other business the council:
- Implemented a city employee fraternization policy, the details of which can be seen in the agenda packet,
- Re-appropriated funds to the Leeds High School Band Boosters following a transfer error,
- Approved the fiscal year 2021-2022 city budget, and
- Approved a contract with Clastran Paratransit Services.
Meetings are held on the first and third Mondays of every month at City Hall’s location at 1412 9th Street. Agenda packets can be seen online at the City of Leeds website.